
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that his government will not include discussions on security in its trade talks with the U.S., while President Donald Trump has called for reducing the U.S. burden in defending Japan.
“I don’t think it is appropriate to discuss security and trade together. We should address security issues without linking them to tariffs,” Ishiba said on a TV program, days after his close aide met with Trump and senior U.S. officials on the recently increased levies.