The Nikkei asked experts in various fields for their assessment of the trade deal agreed upon between the Japanese and U.S. governments. Many gave the deal a positive review overall. Experts were pleased that the imposition of additional tariffs on Japanese car exports was avoided and the decrease of tariffs on Japanese farm products was kept to the level in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact.

Some experts, however, expressed concern about the future. The joint statement issued by the Japanese and U.S. governments indicated that the two nations will enter a new round of trade negotiations. “The second-stage negotiations will be rough-going as Japan has lost beef as a bargaining chip,” said Junichi Sugawara, a senior researcher at Mizuho Research Institute.