Japan Weighs U.S. Tariff Fallout on India as Akazawa Trip Unsettled

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said in Tokyo that a visit to Washington by Economy Minister Akazawa "has not been decided yet." Hayashi added that the government will study how the latest U.S. tariff measures aimed at Indian exports could affect Japanese interests and regional supply chains. In the United States, former Indian foreign secretary and current lawmaker Harsh Vardhan Shringla told an audience in Reston, Virginia, that Indian goods will face 50% U.S. customs duties starting at midnight. He said New Delhi is working on steps to limit the impact on exporters, including expanding domestic semiconductor capacity in partnership with the United States. Earlier, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underscored that defence and security cooperation with Japan has become an “important pillar” of bilateral relations, suggesting that tighter strategic coordination may help both countries navigate the shifting trade environment.