Japan's elections complicate trade negotiations with the US

Japan's ruling coalition suffered a significant defeat in a parliamentary election on Sunday, the 20th, a setback that threatens to derail delicate trade negotiations with the United States. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was betting that his tough stance with U.S. President Donald Trump would help consolidate public support, but instead he is expected to lose his majority in the election for the Upper House of the Japanese parliament, having lost his majority in the Lower House in the October 2024 elections.

In Sunday's vote, Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito needed to win at least 50 seats to maintain their majority in the Upper House. With most votes counted, both parties are on track to win only between 46 and 49 seats, according to projections from public broadcaster NHK. Japanese voters are far more focused on inflation and immigration than on US tariff policy.

Ishiba may now face calls to resign, although he insisted Sunday that he will remain in office as negotiations with the U.S. are at a critical juncture. "We are currently engaged in truly borderline tariff negotiations with the U.S.," Ishiba said Sunday. "I have personally met with President Trump twice and spoken with him numerous times on the phone. This is something we must not waste." Source: Dow Jones Newswires

Content translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence, reviewed and edited by the Broadcast Editorial Team, Grupo Estado's real-time news system.