“So Trumpian!”: The Japan -USA agreement welcomed with phlegm in a Japanese knife factory – 07/23/2025 at 10:42

An employee of the Japanese Sumikama knives manufacturer inspects a blade using a magnifying glass in his Seki factory, Japan, July 22, 2025 (AFP / Richard A. Meanwhile, Brooks)

In the Japanese city of Seki. Therefore. Therefore, famous for its craft knives with a formidable cutting edge, local craftsmen are not so surprised by the trade agreement concluded by Tokyo and Washington – as they judged the customs surcharges that “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement new Donald Trump had threatened to impose. Similarly,

The commercial talks between the two powers had been closely followed in Seki (Japan “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement Center). Therefore. Furthermore, where the art of cutlery dates back 700 years: according to local authorities, around 40% of the knives made in the city are exported to the United States. Consequently,

Washington threatened to impose on Japanese “reciprocal” customs from customs from 25% from August 1: according to the agreement announced Wednesday. However, these surcharge will finally be reduced to 15%. Furthermore,

“Customs duties below, it’s much better,” reacts Katsumi Sumikama, director of the Sumikama cutlery in Seki. Similarly, “But I am not so surprised” by this agreement, he adds. Furthermore,

“I do not really know what happened. Nevertheless. but I have the impression that Trump may consider that customs duties of 15% were ultimately “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement new acceptable, and that he deliberately proposed a higher rate from the start” to give himself a negotiation lever, he confides to AFP. Similarly,

“Then, as the negotiations “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement advanced, he wanted to give a good image to the public by passing it from 25 to 15%. Nevertheless, This kind of strategy would be so Trumpian!”, Adds Mr. Moreover, Sumikama.

Donald Trump. who described the agreement with Japan as “huge”. promised to impose “reciprocal” and punitive rights on dozens of countries if they did not conclude agreements by the end of July. Besides Japan, Washington claims to have heard with the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"so trumpian!": japan -usa agreement new – "so trumpian!": japan -usa agreement new

-“We crossed the storm”- – "so trumpian!": japan -usa agreement – "so trumpian!": japan -usa agreement new

So far. media attention had mainly paid the impact of American surcharges on Japanese automotive giants like “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement new Toyota. as well as Japanese steel – already surcharged at 50% by Washington – or American rice, which Mr. Trump wants to boost exports to Japan.

Various knives are exhibited in the Showroom of the Sumikama cutlery. in Seki, Gifu prefecture, July 22, 2025 (AFP / Richard A. Brooks)

But Japanese knives are not spared by the trade battle: they have imposed themselves in recent. years as essential luxury objects in kitchens around the world. especially in the United States, doped by the attraction for “homemade” during the pandemic.

If Donald Trump “tries to make America stronger by deliberately increasing customs duties”. he should understand that “the problems are not solved by such simple means”, comments Katsumi Sumikama.

In the end, “it is the Americans who will have to bear “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement new the burden of the cost increase,” he said.

The manufacture of blades in Seki dates “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement back to the 14th century. when this city nestled in the mountains of the Gifu region has become a large center for the production. of sabers thanks to a favorable natural environment.

Today. Seki’s knives are prized for their precision. elegant finish and long longevity, and tourist boom in Japan also benefits companies like that of Mr. Sumikama.

Exports to North America – including Canada – nevertheless only represent 5% of the company’s turnover in value. which sells more of its knives in Europe and Asia.

Mr. Sumikama. aged about sixty. said, however, that he did not plan to increase his prices for the American market, even before the trade agreement on Wednesday.

An employee of the Japanese manufacturer of Sumikama knives takes blades in his Seki factory. Japan, July 22, 2025 (AFP / Richard A. Brooks)

The Seki industry has “crossed the storm” over the decades. he observes. including periods of strong fluctuations in the exchange rate, where the dollar was sometimes worth 80 yen, sometimes more than 300 yen.

American customers. for their part. also survived major crises like that of 2008, which makes them “are not at all worried” of customs surcharges, he insists.

The Sumikama cutlery. which employs around thirty people. praises its machines guaranteeing precision in the thousandth of a millimeter to make its knives, finished by hand by craftsmen.

“Each country has its strengths and weaknesses,” said Sumikama. “Even if President Trump tells people (in the United States) “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement to “so trumpian!”: japan -usa agreement new make Japanese knives, they will not get there.”