“The Future of U.S.-Japan Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era”

September 24, 2025
President, Japan Forum on International Relations
WATANBE Mayu

We are pleased to announce that the Japan Forum on International Relations will hold an international symposium titled “The Future of U.S.-Japan Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era” on Monday, October 27, as detailed below.

Since the inauguration of the second Trump administration, the international environment has been changing rapidly, and the foundations of the existing order and alliance frameworks are being reexamined. The so-called “Trump Shock,” characterized by the global spread of protectionist tariff measures, has prompted a redefinition of the United States’ international role and exerted direct pressure on U.S.-Japan trade and investment relations. Although high tariffs on automobiles and auto parts have been reduced, they continue to significantly affect exports, negotiations, and the broader international economic environment. In particular, the substantial reduction and restructuring of USAID has transformed the traditional global role of the United States, raising concerns among its allies. These developments have also created apprehension that Japan’s areas of strength, such as climate cooperation and international coordination, may be negatively impacted, as their importance is relatively downgraded. Moreover, the cohesion of the “alliance of values” shows signs of fragility, and there is a growing risk that the very nature of the alliance may be transformed.

The symposium will explore these pressing issues in two sessions: Session 1, “Deepening U.S.-Japan Cooperation in Economic Security,” will examine practical opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, and supply chain policy; and Session 2, “The Fragile ‘Alliance of Values’ and the Future of Climate Policy,” will address challenges in climate cooperation and value-based solidarity.

This symposium is held as part of the U.S.-Japan joint research project, “Deepening of U.S.-Japan Cooperation on ‘Non-Military’ Aspects,” conducted by the Japan Forum on International Relations. As this is the final year of the project, the symposium will bring together Japanese and U.S. project members to shed light on the challenges faced by both countries in areas such as the economy, trade, mobility of people, climate change, and the media, and to engage in discussions with the audience aimed at formulating policy proposals to the two governments.