Will U.S.-Japan Security Ties Survive the Tariff Test?

President Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Japanese auto imports has jolted the U.S.–Japan alliance days ahead of Japan’s July 20 upper-house elections. Despite repeated rounds of negotiations, a deal remains elusive, raising questions about the future of one of the world’s most important bilateral security relationships between Tokyo and Washington.

This week’s guest, Dr. William Chou, a seasoned Japan analyst, unpacks how trade tensions are shaping political dynamics in Tokyo, why Japan isn’t getting credit for its significant U.S. investments and military support, and the impact all this might have on supply chains, defense, technology – and Japan’s elections. 

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