Former Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe criticized the U.S. for using tariffs as a coercive tool to enforce its hegemonic position, warning that such actions harm others without yielding benefits for itself.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Masuzoe emphasized that Washington’s tariff hikes are designed to stifle the growth of other economies, reinforcing its dominance at the expense of global trade stability.
"In terms of the field of artificial intelligence, for example DeepSeek, China is catching up to and even surpassing the U.S. at an astonishing pace. The U.S. feels a strong sense of crisis, fearing that if this continues, China may exceed the U.S. in more areas. The 'weapon' at Trump's disposal is tariffs. I have great confidence in China's development that China will not lose, and Japan will not lose either. As long as we strengthen our own capabilities, we can take the initiative and maintain control," Masuzoe said.
He noted that in 1930, the U.S. government instigated a global tariff war, which ultimately led to the Great Depression and became one of the triggers for World War II.
Following the war, countries around the world embraced free trade, paving the way for global prosperity. However, Masuzoe warned that the U.S. is now repeating past mistakes, an approach that will harm others without yielding any benefits for itself.
"Will the U.S. economy improve by adopting economic protectionism? Absolutely not. In fact, it is the U.S. that is suffering. For example, American farmers will face severe difficulties if they cannot export their agricultural products to China. The current Trump administration has abandoned the responsibility of 'protecting global free trade,' and I refer to this phenomenon as 'America's decline,'" Masuzoe said.
He urged nations to unite in response to U.S. tariff policies and defend free trade, stressing the need to safeguard the stability of the global economic system.
"If this approach [of the tariff war] disrupts the process of achieving shared prosperity through free trade, it will worsen the global economy. This is absolutely something we cannot allow to happen," he said.
US tariffs harm others without benefiting itself: former Tokyo governor
