Trump Tariffs and Currency Claims Escalate Trade Tensions

President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and increased duties on Chinese goods, leading to heightened market volatility and fears of a trade war. China has retaliated by imposing levies on American goods, further escalating tensions. Concurrently, Trump has accused Japan and China of devaluing their currencies to gain trade advantages, which he claims is unfair to U.S. industries like manufacturing. Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato refuted these allegations, asserting that Japan is not pursuing a policy to weaken the yen. The tariffs have also influenced oil prices, affecting natural rubber prices and Japan's economy, which is sensitive to yen fluctuations. Japan's economy, heavily reliant on exports, is facing pressure from the ongoing trade tensions and currency value concerns.