Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy, says Bessent

Reuters reported the information.

Bessent made the remarks following a meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato during the annual International Monetary Fund and G7/G20 financial meetings in Washington.

“Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and the Administration's expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy,” Bessent wrote on social media.

Kato responded that Japan would coordinate with other G7 countries to help achieve a just peace in Ukraine.

Despite the G7’s joint commitment to gradually phase out Russian oil after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Japan continues to import Sakhalin Blend, a strategic oil by-product covering about 9% of its LNG needs. Meanwhile, the U.S. is promoting its liquefied natural gas to allies, including through the $44 billion Alaska LNG project.

• On September 12, Japan introduced a new sanctions package on Russia, including a cap on the maximum price for Russian oil imports.