On Friday, May 23, President Donald Trump undertook two significant actions related to tariff negotiations.
First, he held a phone conversation with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, engaging for approximately 45 minutes in “wide-ranging discussions on various issues, including cooperation on economic security matters linked to Japan-US tariff negotiations.”
This marked Ishiba’s third phone conversation with Trump. The first occurred on November 7, two days after the presidential election on November 5 last year, lasting about 5 minutes.
The second took place on April 7, following the reciprocal tariff announcement on April 2, lasting approximately 25 minutes.
Comparing the duration of these conversations, this latest call appears to hold greater significance than the previous two.
Additionally, Trump posted on Truth Social on the same day, welcoming the “partnership” between US Steel and Nippon Steel.
Conversely, just hours after his phone conversation with Ishiba on May 23, Trump condemned the European Union on Truth Social, stating that the EU was “formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE.”
He blamed the EU’s “powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American companies” for America’s massive trade deficit and proposed imposing 50% tariffs starting June 1.
What lies behind these contrasting approaches toward Japan and Europe on the same day?
