Japanese scholars have warned that the U.S. tariff policy will have a significant impact on the global economy, suggesting that the Japanese government should realign its economic focus and prioritize the Asian market. The Japanese government held a meeting on Friday to discuss how to respond to the tariff policy recently implemented by the U.S. government. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at the meeting that the U.S. policy is likely to fundamentally change the economic order established by the international community over the years. Tanaka Akitoshi, a Japanese lawyer, said that the U.S. tariffs will hurt the world economy, urging the Japanese government to focus on Asia markets. "Japan has faced economic threats from the United States on multiple occasions and may also face economic blockades from the United States in the future. Therefore, I think Japan should expand its trade in Asia to bring about economic development," he said. Japanese scholars also said that the U.S. tariffs will have unpredictable impacts on the Global South, and eventually backfire on the United States itself. "The U.S. tariff policy will affect the global economy, leading to a slowdown in the global economic development speed. It will also have unpredictable impacts on the countries of the Global South," said Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor of Political Science Hosei University, Japan. "I think many Japanese enterprises are in trouble now, and the American people will be too. In a sense, the United States needs to allocate resources from all over the world to support the lives of its people. If tariffs keep these products out, it is very likely that the lives of the American people will encounter difficulties," said Akitoshi. SHOTLIST: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Aug 24, 2021 1. Various of traffic; Osaka, Japan - April 25, 2025 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Tanaka Akitoshi, Japanese lawyer: "Japan has faced economic threats from the United States on multiple occasions and may also face economic blockades from the United States in the future. Therefore, I think Japan should expand its trade in Asia to bring about economic development."; FILE: Los Angeles, USA - Date Unknown3. Various of vessels at port 4. Crane moving container at port; Osaka, Japan - April 25, 2025 5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hiroshi Shiratori, professor, Political Science Hosei University (partially overlaid with shot 6): "The U.S. tariff policy will affect the global economy, leading to a slowdown in the global economic development speed. It will also have unpredictable impacts on the countries of the Global South."; FILE: New York City, USA - Oct 2024 [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Various of buildings, pedestrians, traffic; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Japan - Date Unknown 7. Aerial shots of factory, Toyota signage; 8. Parked vehicles; 9. Signage of Toyota; FILE: Japan - Aug 12, 2020 10. Various of vehicles being manufactured in factory; Osaka, Japan - April 25, 2025 11. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Tanaka Akitoshi, Japanese lawyer (starting with shot 10): "I think many Japanese enterprises are in trouble now, and the American people will be too. In a sense, the United States needs to allocate resources from all over the world to support the lives of its people. If tariffs keep these products out, it is very likely that the lives of the American people will encounter difficulties."; FILE: Japan - Date Unknown 12. Various of pedestrians, traffic. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]