Japan PM Takaichi Says Trump Flagged Weak Yen as US Trade Burden

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump told her during their meeting in New York last month that yen weakness is hurting American trade. She said she replied that, by general principle, an undervalued yen is itself a problem. In an exclusive interview with Nippon TV, Takaichi said Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama told her U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent understands Japan's economic policy and has made no demands on its direction. Bessent has repeatedly suggested the Bank of Japan should raise rates to help the yen find an appropriate level, and after the yen fell to around 164 per dollar, Japanese and U.S. authorities jointly intervened in foreign exchange markets — their first joint action to support the yen in 28 years. Takaichi declined to comment specifically on the currency market, instead stressing her growth agenda and saying that boosting Japan's competitiveness will ultimately help build confidence in the yen.