Japan Cancels U.S. Security Meeting amid Trade Talk Roadblock

Japan has cancelled its annual “2+2” security meeting with the U.S. as the two sides continue to make limited progress in sealing a trade deal. The meeting was cancelled after senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby requested that Japan increase its defense spending to 3.5% of its budget, up from 3.0%, according to the Financial Times, which cited people close to the matter. Japan didn’t take that request well.

Christopher Johnstone, former Center for Strategic and International Studies Japan Chair senior associate, said that Japan holds the meeting in high regard because it grants it the ability to “showcase the strength of the US-Japan alliance.”

U.S.-Japan Trade Talks “In a Fog”

The scrapped meeting comes amid U.S.-Japan trade talks remaining “in a fog,” according to top Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa on Friday. The two sides have held several in-person talks but have not been able to reach a major breakthrough.

In 2024, the U.S. exported $79.7 billion of goods to Japan and imported $148.2 billion, resulting in a goods trade deficit of $68.5 billion.

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