Trump is like a 'delinquent kid extorting somebody’

A Japanese lawmaker has sharply criticized the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, calling them a form of “extortion” as trade and security talks between Washington and Tokyo got underway this week.

The United States and Japan have entered a new phase of negotiations aimed at stabilizing economic and strategic ties, after President Trump’s tariff policies rattled global markets.

Japan was among the first countries to reach out to the U.S. to negotiate a deal with the Trump administration.

While Trump praised the progress being made, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged that the talks would likely be challenging and made it clear that Japan was not planning to offer any “major concessions” just to secure a deal.

“Of course, the negotiations will not be easy going forward, but President Trump has stated that he wants to give top priority to the talks with Japan,” Ishiba said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

During a parliamentary hearing, lawmaker Oguma urged Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to resist Trump’s demands, comparing the U.S. president to “a delinquent kid extorting someone.”

“If Japan listens to this and bends the other way in response to the impossible demands of bargaining and deals, it will set a bad example as a customary and historical precedent,” Oguma said.

(QG - Source: Newsweek  - Picture : © Pixabay)