After Donald Trump had officially imposed a 25% tariff on Japan’s imports starting from August 1, Tokyo and Washington reached a constructive solution… to go ahead with the negotiations.

On July 8, at 9:00 PM Tokyo time, Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held a phone call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The conversation lasted thirty minutes and, according to Japan’s Secretariat, included “frank and in-depth discussions.” In other words, it was exactly the kind of wording typically found in press releases when both sides stood their ground but avoided a scandal.

Despite the hefty tariff hike, Japan maintains equanimity and a diplomatic tone. In an official statement, Tokyo emphasized that it would make every effort to seek a mutually beneficial solution, though no one specified just how “mutual” or for whom it would be “beneficial.”

Well, the tariffs are in place, and the dialogue is going on. In the East, that already counts as progress. Apparently, the White House has the same viewpoint.