Japan Finance Minister Cites Bessent's Views, Denies US Pressure

TechFlow news, August 5, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama stated that US Treasury Secretary Bessent believes Japan's fiscal situation is improving. Previously, after Washington assisted Tokyo in supporting the yen, Bessent accepted a series of interviews, and Katayama subsequently made the above remarks. "Overall, Bessent stated that Japan is moving towards fiscal discipline," Katayama said, citing Bessent's remarks from interviews with multiple media outlets overnight. She also refuted the external view that the US Treasury Secretary was attempting to exert policy pressure on Japan. Katayama stated, "If any foreign government believed that Japan was not managing its own policies properly, they would not be willing to cooperate with us." Satsuki Katayama also added that Bessent has long supported Japan's strategy to promote economic growth. (Jin10)