Yasutoshi Nishimura is an adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister Abe:

  • Wants to tell the US that any border tax it imposes should not violate World Trade Organisation rules
  • Not ruling out a US-Japan free trade agreement, but negotiations are not likely to start soon

via Reuters

ps. New USD highs for the session pretty much across the board (not against the AUD):

ICYMI:

Speeches from various Federal Reserve officials have brought a March rate hike well and truly back into focus, with probabilities as high as 80% now being bandied about (I covered this in the wrap, but here are the links again:

  • More from Fed's Bullard: No reason to be aggressive in rate hikes
  • More from Fed's Bullard: Not much inflation pressure with 2% economic growth
  • Fed's Bullard: Fed has essentially achieved its dual mandate
  • More from Fed's Williams: Does not see need to delay on hiking
  • More from Fed's Dudley: 'Good' fiscal policy to share more on stimulus burden
  • Fed's Williams on the USD: Value determined by markets, a key input to outlook
  • Fed hike odds jump on Dudley comments. USD/JPY setting up for a big gain
  • USD/JPY liking the hawkish Fed remarks
  • The Fed is on a communications offensive
  • Fed's Dudley: Case for rate rise is more compelling
  • More from Fed's Williams: Right now interest rates are abnormally low,
  • Fed's Williams: Rate increase up for 'serious consideration' in March
  • Fed's Harker: Repeats that 3 hikes appropriate this year

)