By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan on Thursday called for a "free, fair and open" international economic order, as US president Donald Trump announced to impose 25% tariffs on Japan.
In talks with his counterparts from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed Tokyo’s desire to deepen cooperation with the regional group.
Underlining that the regional bloc is "at the center of global growth," Iwaya said that its role has become “increasingly important for regional peace and prosperity.”
Regarding the tariffs suggested by Trump, the Japanese minister emphasized that it is important to "maintain and strengthen" the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its core.
The US president on Monday announced that Washington will impose a 25% tariff on imports from Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia starting Aug. 1.