日本财长否认拿美债作贸易谈判筹码，学者：不懂为什么不打“王牌”

Core Viewpoint - Japanese Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu retracted his earlier statement suggesting that Japan could use its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds as leverage in trade negotiations with the U.S. [1][3] Group 1: Statements and Clarifications - Kato emphasized that Japan's holding of U.S. Treasury bonds, amounting to nearly $1.13 trillion, is primarily for ensuring liquidity and stabilizing the yen, not as a bargaining chip in negotiations [3][4] - His initial comments were made during a time when Japan was engaged in tariff negotiations with the U.S., which raised concerns about Japan's cautious approach to its U.S. bond holdings [3][5] Group 2: Market Reactions and Implications - Analysts noted that even the suggestion of using U.S. Treasury bonds as a negotiation tool could increase volatility in the U.S. bond market, especially following recent trade tensions [5][7] - The potential for Japan or other major holders to sell U.S. bonds could lead to higher U.S. interest rates, complicating the financing of the U.S. budget deficit and impacting borrowers [7][8] - Historical context was provided, referencing former Prime Minister Hashimoto Ryutaro's similar comments about selling U.S. bonds, which led to market turmoil and a retraction of his statements [8]