Donald Trump accused Japan of engaging in unfair trade practices during a visit to Tokyo on the second day of a five-nation Asia tour on which he will focus on economic issues and the mounting threat from North Korea.
In a speech to business leaders on Monday, the US president reprised the economic themes that dominated his presidential campaign, saying trade with Japan was “not free or reciprocal” and that, for example, Japan imported “virtually no cars” from the US.
However, he praised the Japanese prime minister for buying lots of US military equipment, which he said was necessary because of the provocations “from some of your neighbours”.