40% of Japanese prefectures offer aid amid U.S. tariffs: survey

Nearly 40 percent of the Japanese prefectural governments are offering or planning to offer financial aid to small and mid-sized businesses, as well as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors hit by U.S. tariffs, a Kyodo News survey showed.

The survey revealed that 18 of Japan's 47 prefectures have moved to offer such assistance, with nine more planning to do so.

Tottori and Fukuoka prefectures have launched specialized loan programs, while 90 percent of prefectures have set up consultation services.

All prefectural governments responded that they are "concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about the impact of tariffs on the local economy as concerns grow over the repercussions of the tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

Besides asking the central government to persist with negotiations with the U.S., many prefectural governments are seeking financial aid for small and midsize businesses and diversification of their export destinations, according to the survey.