Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent met with Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama in Tokyo to discuss the US-Japan alliance and ongoing economic cooperation. According to a readout, Secretary Bessent conveyed his strong confidence in the partnership between the two countries and looked forward to continued engagement with Minister Katayama in the coming months.
Bessent welcomed Katayama’s insights on fiscal measures currently under consideration by Japan and expressed interest in learning more as policy details are finalized to better assess their potential effects.
The meeting also addressed monetary policy. Secretary Bessent emphasized the importance of clear monetary policy formulation and communication for anchoring inflation expectations and limiting exchange rate volatility, especially given how economic conditions have changed since Abenomics was introduced twelve years ago.
Additionally, Bessent commended Katayama’s previous work on deregulation during her cabinet tenure and stated his belief that she could continue advancing productivity growth within Japan’s economy.
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