Trump’s Trade War with China pits Japan against its US ally

Shinzo Abe’s friendship with Donald Trump is being sorely tested by a trade dispute over steel.

Mr Trump is refusing to remove tariffs on Japanese steel imports and Japan has now responded by starting legal action at the World Trade Organisation.

It leaves Mr Abe in the awkward position of siding with China in a feud with his long-term ally, the United States.

In this week’s Japan Story blog, you can read why Mr Trump’s battle with China is causing serious knock-on problems for his relations with Japan.

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Japan Story’s blog is written by former BBC Tokyo Correspondent Duncan Bartlett. Each week he analyses how Japan’s story is being told to the world through the international media.