While Japan won’t walk away from its alliance with the United States, the linchpin of the Asian country’s diplomacy and security policies, “it’s also true that the tariffs and uncertainty that Trump has created for Japan is really shaking things up in Tokyo,” Goodman said.

The Trump administration is weighing a dramatic tariff reduction during weekend talks with China to de-escalate tensions and temper the economic pain both countries are already starting to feel. People familiar with preparations for the talks,

The meeting is the strongest sign yet that the world's two biggest economies are ready to de-escalate their trade war.