Trump Links Tariffs, Troop Costs in Asia Talks

President Donald Trump has expanded U.S. tariff negotiations to include both Japan and South Korea, linking trade issues with the cost of hosting U.S. troops in both countries. Trump personally joined talks with Japanese officials in Washington, highlighting 'trade fairness,' steep tariffs, and Japan's $63 billion trade surplus with the U.S., while referencing the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Japan is seeking tariff exemptions but insists that defense and trade should remain separate discussions. South Korea, which hosts 28,500 U.S. troops, is preparing for similar demands but has not received formal proposals yet. The Trump administration's transactional approach has raised concerns among U.S. allies and drawn global attention to the broader geopolitical stakes. Both Japanese and South Korean officials expect the negotiations to be challenging and prolonged.