Japan's Trade Min Seko: outright trade wars threaten free trade

Hiroshige Seko, the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry is weighing in on the round of tariffs between the US and China, expressing caution that the global free trade market is exposed to risks by a trade war.

Seko ultimately wants to see Japan exempted from all the tariff action unfolding, and is concerned that instability from tariffs threatens to undermine international trade with retaliatory actions between trading partners. Risk assets  such as the Aussie and equities are at risk in this environment, and the Yen stands to push further up if tensions break and traders balk.