US President Donald Trump has said other countries value added taxes or VAT, as well as export subsidies, can be reasons for Washington to impose what he calls reciprocal tariffs.
Trump signed that tariff scheme on Thursday. It says the US will match what it considers high levies placed by other countries on American goods. The US president wrote in a social media post on Saturday, provisions will be made for non-tariff trade barriers that other countries set. He said the barriers were aimed at keeping US products out of their domain or preventing US businesses from operating.
Trump insisted America has been treated unfairly by both friends and unfriendly nations for many years. He claimed reciprocal tariffs will immediately bring fairness and prosperity back into the trade system. Trump warned countries they will have to reduce or end their measures if they believe US tariffs on their products are too high.
Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi has asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to exclude his country from a series of tariffs Trump plans to impose.
I conveyed my view that Japan should not be subject to measures known as reciprocal tariffs.
Iwaya also requested America's 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, not apply to Japan, and he raised the issue of tariffs on Japanese automobiles exported to the US.
Iwaya and Rubio reaffirmed the two countries will communicate closely with each other to deepen bilateral economic relations. Iwaya also told Rubio that he would like to hold a 2+2 meeting of foreign and defense chiefs as soon as possible.
Russia says Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his counterpart Rubio agreed during a phone call to regularly contact each other to prepare for a bilateral summit.
The ministry says the conversation on Saturday was held at the initiative of the US. It says the two ministers reaffirmed their readiness to work together to restore dialogue in line with the policies set by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Trump.
The two leaders talked on the phone on Wednesday. Both sides reportedly expressed a shared commitment to addressing international issues, including the Russia Ukraine conflict and the situation involving Palestinians.
the US State Department says Rubio reaffirmed Trump's commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that he cannot allow negotiations on ending the conflict with Russia without the involvement of his country.
Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement.
Zelenskyy also referred to the phone talks between the US and Russian presidents. He says Trump did not once mention the need for Europe to be at the negotiating table. US media outlet Bloomberg cites sources saying that senior officials from the US and Russia will meet this week in Saudi Arabia. The report says the officials will pave the way for a summit between Trump and Putin as soon as the end of this month. The report also says senior Ukrainian officials are expected to participate, but are not fully involved in the preparations.
Zelensky was asked about the possible meeting in Saudi Arabia, and said he has not seen any invitations. He said there may be something on the table, but not on his table. Zelensky said Trump meeting Putin before meeting with him would make the situation even more dangerous.
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations are pledging to work together to help achieve a durable peace in Ukraine. They released a joint statement after their first meeting since the inauguration of US President Trump.
The ministers met in the southern German city of Munich on Saturday. They exchanged views on Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo Pacific region. Their joint statement underscored a commitment to help achieve a durable peace in a strong and prosperous Ukraine. They also reaffirmed the need to develop robust security guarantees to ensure the war will not restart. The document said any new additional sanctions on Russia should be linked to whether Moscow enters into real, good-faith efforts to bring an enduring end to the war. It also seeks to have Russia provide Ukraine with long-term security and stability as a sovereign, independent country. The G7 ministers also condemned China's so-called dual-use assistance to Russia, as well as military assistance provided by North Korea and Iran.
Local media in India say a deadly stampede at a New Delhi railway station has killed at least 15 people. A huge crowd was waiting to board a train bound for a major religious festival in the north of the country.
Media reports say the stampede occurred Saturday evening on a railway platform in the Indian capital, killing at least 15 people, including three children.
There was a huge stampede. I have never seen such a huge crowd before.
The platform was crowded with people heading for Prayag Raj, the site of the Kumbh Mela Festival. The six-week Hindu festival started in January. Over 400 million pilgrims are set to bathe in the Ganges River to purify themselves during the festival. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has posted a message on social media, sharing his condolences with the bereaved families. Saturday's accident follows another stampede during the festival on January 29, which killed at least 30 people at the Ganges.
There have been calls for tighter safety measures at festival sites.
A Buddhist temple in western Japan has wrapped a week of ceremonies with a dramatic nighttime rite.
The tradition, called Dadaoshi, symbolizes driving out evil and welcoming good health. The main hall of Hasedera Temple in Nara Prefecture's city of Sakurai is designated. A national treasure. People playing demons screamed and wielded cudgels. Amidst the sound of drums and conch shells, monks held up amulets is said to have the power to force out demons.
Participants swung torches that are 4 meters long and weigh up to 130 kilograms to drive out the demons. The scene dazzled the public.
The torches were a real surprise.
The rhythm of the drums was very moving.
Tourists are being welcomed in the northern Japanese prefecture of Akita, with a traditional festival featuring dozens of what are called Kamakura snow huts. This year, snowfall measured over one meter high for the first time in three years. That made it easier for the staff to build about 60 huts for the festival. The igloo-like structures are about four meters in diameter and three meters high. Visitors entered the huts to enjoy sweet sake and rice cakes. Organizers said they hope visitors enjoy such interactions with the children and feel the warmth of the local people.
I was surprised that it was warmer than I expected.
The drink was very, very sweet. And, what's the pen?
Rice cake.
The rice cake?
Rice cake
right.
It's very good.
Very good.
Nice drink.
Organizers say the 450-year-old festival in Yokote City is dedicated to a water deity that people pray to with hopes of a good harvest.
And those were the main stories for this hour.
♫～
And that's the news this hour. I'm Gene Otani. From all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿