The Japan Times is reporting that U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled 50% tariffs on a wide range of imports from Canada on Monday, citing discriminatory treatment of American-made cars, alcohol and dairy goods. It said Trump is poised to impose fresh levies on products from dozens of economies by Friday to ensure his tariff regime remains intact. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer insisted the country will respect its trade agreements with Japan and the EU as it moves forward with additional tariffs. A year after Japan pledged up to $550 billion in investments and loans to the U.S. for lower tariffs, only about 20% of the planned total has been reached, according to Jiji. Bloomberg sources indicate JPMorgan and other U.S. banks are nearing agreements to provide some financing for this pledge, as Japanese lenders have been reluctant. Japanese exports rose last year despite the first fall in shipments to the U.S. since the pandemic, but U.S. tariff policies continue to affect Japanese automakers. Toyota is moving production of its Tacoma midsize truck from Mexico to San Antonio as part of a $3.6 billion investment, while Honda is ending sales of its electric vehicles in the U.S. altogether.
The Japan Times is also reporting that a recent Pew survey shows Chinese leader Xi Jinping has higher global confidence (31%) than U.S. President Donald Trump (21%) regarding world affairs. It said Japan remains broadly negative on China, even as many other countries view China more favorably than the U.S. Japan also remains relatively supportive of Trump, while Xi Jinping gains global popularity, sometimes outpolling the U.S. leader, Samantha Lee reports. Brad Glosserman writes that the survey suggests respectful and cooperative language wins friends, but behavior determines a nation's evaluation. Japan is watching with concern as the U.S. plans to urge signatories to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.
Separately, the newspaper is reporting that a Japanese research team aims to carry out clinical research into temporarily transplanting modified pig kidneys to a human fetus with severe kidney disease. It said this is expected to be the world's first xenotransplantation to a human fetus. The team aims to begin full-fledged joint research with Thai and German institutions soon, with clinical research potentially starting in fiscal 2027. Last month, Japanese startup PorMedTec announced plans for clinical trials of pig-to-human kidney transplants in Hokkaido and Kanagawa hospitals as early as 2028. More than 300,000 people in Japan are on dialysis due to renal problems, and about 15,000 are waiting for a kidney transplant.
In other news, The Japan Times is reporting that prediction markets, officially illegal in Japan due to strict anti-gambling regulations, are finding workarounds through new startups. It said platforms like Miraima allow users to wager on real-world events and win points convertible into monetary rewards such as gift cards, an indirect payout system similar to that used by the pachinko industry.
Finally, the newspaper is reporting that Yoshimoto Kogyo, a major talent agency, is staging English-language comedy shows in Tokyo and Osaka, called Yoshimoto Comedy Night Owarai. Alicia Haddick reports the company's dream is to expand these shows into daily attractions in larger theaters, aiming to make "o-warai" (Japanese comedy) a significant draw for foreign visitors, akin to manga, anime, or sushi.