As a rare ally on good terms with Trump, Japan has the chance to raise its global standing

-The Japan Times-

In the run-up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s four-day visit to Japan beginning Saturday, officials and journalists in Tokyo have fretted over whether trade talks could put a damper on the otherwise robust Japan-U.S. relations.According to news reports, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are not scheduled to announce any joint statement, which some speculate is an indication that the two allies may paper over their differences on trade.

As concerns over Trump’s aggressive posture on trade persist, one of the common narratives among the popular press in Tokyo is whether U.S.-Japan relations could finally be entering a period of tension after years of warm relations.

For all of the concerns among some quarters in Tokyo, the consensus among alliance managers in Washington is this: Don’t let trade disrupt the U.S.-Japan alliance.

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