In earlier talks, Japan offered to increase imports of US agricultural goods and review its “non-tariff trade barriers” to American car sales to respond to the concerns of the Trump administration. In addition, the government is mulling to collaborate with the US to secure supply chains of rare earth magnets and semiconductors.

For Japan and many other countries, the vulnerability that comes with relying on U.S. markets has become startlingly clear. First came tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico. Then, in February, the administration introduced a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum (this week,