Japan does not manipulate FX to weaken the yen, Finance Minister says
Japan does not manipulate the currency market to weaken the yen, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told parliament on Friday, countering accusations from U.S. President Donald Trump that Japan intentionally depreciates its currency to help exporters. Kato is scheduled to visit Washington next week to attend the G20 finance leaders' gathering and spring IMF meetings, where he may also hold a bilateral meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "Japan does not manipulate the currency market to intentionally weaken the yen, as seen by the fact our latest action was to conducted yen-buying intervention," Kato told lawmakers when asked about Trump's comments criticising Japan for giving its exports a trade advantage by weakening the yen.