Trump tariff deal with US ally takes late blow

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would remain in position to see through the trade negotiations with President Donald Trump‘s White House, after suffering a major election defeat as the deadline to make a tariff deal closes in.

The defeat cost Ishiba’s coalition government its majority in Japan’s upper house on Sunday, July 20. It means the coalition now has a minority in both houses of the Diet, which could complicate finalizing a trade deal that requires lawmaker approval.

Ishiba said he takes the result seriously, but his priority is to avoid creating a political vacuum and to tackle impending challenges, including the August 1 deadline for a tariff deal with Trump.

The Japanese leader said he hopes to reach a mutually beneficial deal and meet Trump, who has been sending letters to U.S. trading partners informing them of their new import tariff rate due to take effect in August unless a last-minute deal is made.

This is a developing article. Updates to follow.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.