Japan extra ready than most for China’s mineral squeeze

Japan extra ready than most for China’s mineral squeeze

Bulldozer scoop soil containing various rare earth to be loaded on to a ship at a port in Lianyungang, east China’s Jiangsu province on September 5, 2010, for export to Japan. Str | Afp | Getty Images Japan has been quietly blazing a trail for supply chain resilience. Long before China in early April imposed … Read more

Rice costs in Japan greater than double in Could as core inflation jumps to highest ranges since 2023

Rice costs in Japan greater than double in Could as core inflation jumps to highest ranges since 2023

A worker handles sacks of brown rice at a Shinmei Co. plant in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Bags of rice are expected to start filling the shelves of Japan’s supermarkets again soon as farmers harvest their new crop, though the increase in supply will do little to tame higher prices. … Read more

Japan exports fall at sharpest tempo in 8 months, down 1.7% as tariffs chew

Japan exports fall at sharpest tempo in 8 months, down 1.7% as tariffs chew

Shipping container loads dock at Tokyo Bay. Japan is heavily reliant on exports (e.g., automobiles, electronics), faces risks from U.S. tariffs, especially on cars (a proposed 25% tariff during Trump’s first term was deferred but remains a concern). Higher tariffs could reduce Japan’s U.S. market access, increase consumer prices, and hurt GDP growth. However, Japan’s … Read more

Pacifist Japan appears to be doubling down on arms exports

Pacifist Japan appears to be doubling down on arms exports

Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images Japan, renowned for its pacifist constitution, is now setting its sights on the global arms exports market. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani earlier this month told Nikkei that he wanted to promote Japan’s defense exports, signaling a clear shift in the country’s arms policy, which has so far been … Read more