Many Japanese companies have been alarmed by the moves and countermoves being played out in the economic tussle between the United States and China, leaving them uncertain as to how to proceed.    Government officials were trying to tamp down such concerns.   At a news conference in November, Hiroshi Kajiyama, the economy minister, said, “There is no need to….Read more

Tokyo, April 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s exports fell 8.4 pct from the previous year to an eight-year low of 69,487.3 billion yen in fiscal 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic depressed the global economy, government data showed Monday.   The decline was the biggest since fiscal 2009, after the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers triggered a global financial crisis, according….Read more

Fukuoka—In FY 2021, Saibu Gas Co. will double the amount of liquified natural gas (LNG) for export to China from FY 2020 to approximately 60,000 tons, which will be shipped in a total of 3,280 separate containers to a Chinese company, JUSDA Energy Technology, in Shanghai.   Transporting in small batches will enable distribution of LNG to the innermost regions….Read more

TADANORI YOSHIDA, Nikkei senior staff writer   TOKYO — Japanese beef producers are finding a ray of hope in exports to the U.S., after being hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. The pandemic has caused a plunge in consumption in the absence of tourists from abroad and plunged restaurants into the doldrums.    In a spotlessly clean meat-processing plant a short….Read more

Saturday’s Yomiuri and Sankei wrote that a 30-day safeguard import restriction on U.S. beef ended on Saturday, quoting Agriculture Minister Nogami as saying on Friday that the measure did not result in a steep rise in retail beef prices. The 38.5% import duty on American products was lowered to 25%. Yomiuri added, however, that wholesale price of U.S. short plate….Read more

Saturday’s Sankei reported that Foreign Minister Motegi said at a meeting of the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which was signed by 15 nations last November, is expected to go into effect “at the end of this year at the earliest or next year.” 

TOKYO – Japan’s trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama and his U.S. counterpart Gina Raimondo agreed in telephone talks Thursday to work closely to bolster semiconductor supply chains in the face of a global shortage.   The details of cooperation between the two countries are expected to be discussed at the summit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Joe Biden….Read more

Japan and the United States have started talks to review conditions for Japan’s safeguard system for American beef, which allows for a tariff hike when imports surpass a predetermined level to protect the domestic industry.   The talks are expected to lead to an increase in the trigger point, which stands at 247,000 tons for the current fiscal year.  ….Read more