In an effort to spare Japan’s auto industry from U.S. tariffs, Abe launched bilateral trade negotiations with Trump in New York.

Their new FTA is “of enormous strategic importance for the rules-based international order,” says the European Council president.

U.S. protectionism has sparked tensions with some of its closest Western allies. Japan remains caught in the middle.

Japan is facing the hard truth: even a close alliance doesn't provide protection from Trump's tariffs.

While a truce was called, the fundamental tensions have not been addressed -- so the 'war' is back on.

Looking beyond short-term crises to the long-term implications for the U.S.-Japan alliance.

What did the U.S. and Japan actually accomplish during Trump's first trip to Japan?

The United States and Japan want fundamentally different things from their trade relationship.

Abe will need to build a relationship with Trump without sparking backlash at home.

Much of Trump's rhetoric is actually music to Abe's ears.

As the Clinton administration learned, pushing Japan away over trade issues risks causing chaos in Asia.