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Trump's Casual Chat with Japan's PM Raises Trade Concerns

5/29/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a surprising turn of events, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba found himself on a 45-minute call with US President Donald Trump, who veered away from trade talks to discuss personal triumphs. This unexpected casual approach left Tokyo officials uneasy, especially with crucial trade negotiations looming as Japan's negotiator prepared to head to Washington to tackle US tariffs on Japanese goods.

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Story summary

In a surprising turn of events, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba found himself on a 45-minute call with US President Donald Trump, who veered away from trade talks to discuss personal triumphs. This unexpected casual approach left Tokyo officials uneasy, especially with crucial trade negotiations looming as Japan's negotiator prepared to head to Washington to tackle US tariffs on Japanese goods.