Francis B. Tang

U.S. to investigate Japan and other countries for unfair trade practices President Donald Trump could impose tariffs based on findings of Section 301 inquiries.

The first one:

Japan listed in second U.S. trade investigation announced in as many days Sixty jurisdictions are mentioned in the new inquiry, which deals with forced labor.

The United States has initiated an unfair trade practice investigation into Japan and other countries, the second in as many days, this time for failure to address the use of forced labor. @japantimes.co.jp

Japan promises 80 million barrels of oil to support 400 million-barrel global intervention Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the commitment hours before the IEA announced the unprecedented coordinated effort by 32 nations.

Investors remain unconvinced by the move. Brent crude broke $100 per barrel in Asian trading Thursday, up from about $90 the day before, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.54% in the morning and USDJPY started testing the ¥160 level. @japantimes.co.jp

U.S. to investigate Japan and other countries for unfair trade practices President Donald Trump could impose tariffs based on findings of Section 301 inquiries.

The move, announced by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday in a statement, comes after tariffs core to U.S. President Trump’s trade strategy were declared illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court. @japantimes.co.jp

Takaichi says oil reserves to be tapped as Iran conflict hits crude flows Japan holds stockpiled oil equivalent to about 254 days of domestic demand. The release of some of that could begin as soon as Monday.

Japan will tap its oil reserves for the first time since 2022 as the war in the Middle East disrupts crude flows and raises the risk of supply shortages, without waiting IEA to reach a decision on a potential coordinated release among its member nations. @japantimes.co.jp

Oil’s dramatic rally sends Japanese stocks, bonds and currency down Prices recovered later on Monday on reports of possible intervention.

Japanese stocks and bonds and the country’s currency fell Monday on growing concern that an oil shock brought about by the attack on Iran could drive up inflation and slow economic growth. @japantimes.co.jp

Kasumigaseki today

Akazawa heading to U.S. to discuss more projects under $550 billion pledge Three projects have already been agreed upon and others could be concluded soon.

Trade minister Ryosei Akazawa is off to Washington again Thursday to discuss the second round of projects to be funded by Japan under its $550 billion capital commitment to the United States. @japantimes.co.jp

Tokyo stocks drop for third day on war in Middle East and growing uncertainty Concerns are growing that the conflict could drag on and oil prices could rise further.

Nikkei 225 is now about 8% lower than the record high, reached just one day before the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. It almost reached 60,000 on Feb. 26, and some analysts argue that the market was overheated and primed for a harder fall.
@japantimes.co.jp

Japan and its businesses rush to respond to Middle East conflict Vessels are being halted, flights canceled and employees evacuated from the region.

Japanese companies and the government are responding quickly to war in the Middle East even as they stress that Japan’s energy supply is not immediately threatened by the conflict. @japantimes.co.jp

‘My hope has fear inside it’: Iranians in Japan react to attacks back home Following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, Iranians living in Japan say they are feeling a mixture of relief, hope and fear as they try to contact their loved ones back home.

‘My hope has fear inside it’: Iranians in Japan react to attacks back home www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03...

Stocks trade lower in Tokyo and yen weak after the U.S. and Israel strike Iran Politicians and economists argue that the situation in Japan is manageable unless the conflict becomes prolonged.

Stocks fell Monday in Tokyo after conflict in the Middle East escalated over the weekend and the price of oil jumped, while the yen also weakened. Politicians and economists cautioned that, while stable for now, the supply of oil could be affected if the clash becomes prolonged. @japantimes.co.jp

Akazawa says Japan shouldn’t be worse off under new tariffs The U.S. Supreme Court declared tariffs central to the Japan-U.S. trade agreement illegal.

Japan will abide by the terms of a trade agreement reached last year with the United States — including a $550 billion capital commitment — even after a court declared a class of tariffs central to the agreement illegal. @japantimes.co.jp

China issues dual-use blacklist of 20 Japanese entities Special permission will be needed to export dual-use items to these companies, institutions and agencies.

The share prices of affected companies declined Tuesday. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries finished the day down 3.1%. IHI Corporation was down 5.73% and Kawasaki Heavy Industries was down 4.02%. @japantimes.co.jp

Trump selects three projects to be funded under Japan's $550 billion pledge Japan and the U.S. have agreed on the first round of projects to be funded by Japan, and a strategically important synthetic diamond factory is on the list.

Japan and the United States have agreed on the first round of projects to be funded by Japan under a $550 billion capital commitment made in a trade deal signed seven months ago, with a strategically important synthetic diamond factory on the list. @japantimes.co.jp

Trump selects investment projects to be funded by Japan The announcement comes one month before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s planned visit to the White House.

U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen three investment projects to be funded by Japan’s $550 billion capital fund, the president and the U.S. Commerce Department announced on Tuesday. @japantimes.co.jp

Japan's economy barely grew in fourth quarter and just avoided recession Japan's economy grew less than expected and just avoided a recession, with gross domestic product growing 0.2% annualized in the fourth quarter.

Japan’s economy barely grew in Q4 of 2025, surprising economists and highlighting the challenges faced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as she works to reflate the economy. @japantimes.co.jp

Takaichi-Ueda meeting most notable for what might not have been said The prime minister not putting pressure on the central bank's governor could prove to be significant.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the second time since she became prime minister, and a contentious subject was avoided. @japantimes.co.jp

Yen strengthens decisively after strong showing by LDP boosts confidence The Nikkei 225 stock average broke 58,000 and hit a new record on Thursday.

In a sharp contrast to the “Takaichi trade” that was all the rage in the months after Takaichi became the ruling party’s leader last October, the yen is now strengthening with her fortunes. @japantimes.co.jp

Coordinated intervention chatter changes the bet on the yen Hint that U.S. will help support currency gets the attention of traders and investors.

There's intervention and then there's intervention, and that became abundantly clear late last week. Even a hint that the United States might join Japan in propping up the yen completely changed the game. @japantimes.co.jp

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor No. 6 being shut down due to alarm malfunction The nuclear power plant, the world's largest, was just restarted Wednesday after 13 years.

Tepco said it would shut down a reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant — the first restarted by the company since the 2011 Fukushima disaster — less than a day after it went back online due to a control rod alarm malfunction. @japantimes.co.jp

Tepco restarts reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, world’s largest nuclear plant The utility had shut down all its nuclear power plants after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) restarted a reactor at the world’s largest nuclear power plant today, marking its 1st concrete step toward resuming nuclear operations since the Fukushima nuclear disaster nearly 15 years ago. @japantimes.co.jp

‘Takaichi trade’ is back following reports that election will be called Yen neared ¥159 to the dollar and 10-year Japanese government bonds fell.

The “Takaichi trade” got rolling again Tuesday, with stocks rallying to new highs and the yen and bonds weakening after reports were published that an election will be called. @japantimes.co.jp

China's dual-use export ban on Japan a decisive escalation Established trade flows are at risk if the restrictions are fully implemented.

Export restrictions put into place by China on Tuesday on goods bound for Japan could put established trade flows at risk, as the list of dual-use products potentially covered by the ban is wide ranging and diverse. @japantimes.co.jp

Takaichi’s Cabinet proposes record spending in next fiscal year The budget will go to parliament for approval when it convenes again early next year.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet approved a record ¥122.3 trillion ($783 billion) budget on Friday that includes the issuing of ¥29.6 trillion worth of government bonds to cover the revenue shortfall. @japantimes.co.jp

Japan’s 10-year government bond yield hits 2.1% as rout continues The yen is also weak after the BOJ’s rate increase and as the approval of a record-busting budget looms.

Japan’s bond market rout accelerated Monday, with the benchmark 10-year yield climbing to a level not seen this century following a rate increase and as the approval of a record government budget looms. @japantimes.co.jp

Bank of Japan rattles markets globally with hint of a rate increase Even the possibility of a December move hits bonds, stocks and crypto.

Japan’s bond-market rout accelerated after BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda delivered hawkish remarks Monday, pushing yields higher and rattling markets locally and overseas. Aggressive fiscal spending by the Takaichi administration is also having an influence on the mood in the bond market. @japantimes.co.jp

Yen and Japanese bonds continue to retreat as verbal intervention lacking Ahead of superbig fiscal stimulus, officials choose not to talk up the currency.

Japan’s triple whammy of falling stocks, sliding currency and weakening long-term bonds ended Thursday as the stock market rallied, while the yen continued to free fall toward ¥158 to the dollar and the 10-year yield reached 17-year high.
@japantimes.co.jp

My latest @reuters.com
The BOJ will raise interest rates at its upcoming December meeting, according to a slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll, pushing through with its aim of normalising monetary policy, backed by the yen's recent decline.

www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Yen rout brings talk of ¥160 to the dollar and possible intervention New administration hit by triple whammy of falling stocks, bonds and currency

Japan now faces a triple whammy of falling stocks, a sliding currency and weakening bonds. Discussions about currency intervention are heating up as the Japanese yen sinks to its lowest level this year and could keep going. @japantimes.co.jp