Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government is considering the cancellation of the tax exemption for foreign tourists and the introduction of a "departure tax" for them, in response to rising domestic prices and the abuse of the tax exemption system by tourists [1] Group 1: Government Strategy - The Japanese government is promoting a tourism strategy aimed at increasing foreign tourist numbers to 60 million by 2030 [1] - The backdrop of the yen's depreciation has led to a sustained increase in foreign tourist visits to Japan [1] Group 2: Economic Context - Domestic prices in Japan are continuously rising, prompting the government to explore tax reforms targeting foreign tourists [1] - The government aims to enhance national revenue without increasing the tax burden on Japanese citizens [1]

Core Viewpoint - The tax reform proposal pushed by the Trump administration, referred to as the "beautiful bill," is facing intense debate in Congress and is seen as a significant shift in the U.S. tax system, with potential global investment implications [1][4]. Group 1: Tax Reform Proposal - The proposal includes a controversial provision, Section 899, which grants the U.S. government unprecedented taxing authority over investments from countries deemed to have "unfair tax practices" [3][4]. - This provision could lead to punitive tax increases on any investment returns from foreign investors, including institutional and individual investors, as well as central banks [3][4]. Group 2: Impact on International Investors - The "long-arm jurisdiction" of the proposed tax regime could significantly affect international financial markets, as it targets investment returns from countries with specific tax classifications [4][10]. - For instance, if Japan holds $1.13 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds with an average interest rate of 3%, the implementation of Section 899 could result in a tax liability of $151.5 million, effectively halving the returns on these investments [6][10]. Group 3: Fiscal Context - The U.S. government is facing a record fiscal deficit of $1.83 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year, prompting the need for increased revenue through measures like tariffs and the proposed tax reform [8][10]. - The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that Section 899 could generate $116 billion in tax revenue over the next decade, highlighting the financial motivations behind the proposal [8][10]. Group 4: Broader Implications - The proposed tax changes reflect deeper fiscal anxieties within the U.S., as foreign investors are perceived to benefit from the dollar's dominance without contributing proportionately to U.S. fiscal responsibilities [10][12]. - The potential for a significant restructuring of the international financial system is evident, as investors globally will need to reassess the risk premiums associated with U.S. investments due to the uncertainty surrounding tax liabilities [12].

Group 1: Monetary Policy - President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions, arguing that current rates are too high given the declining inflation data [3] - The market perceives Trump's frequent interventions in interest rate policy as a potential threat to the independence of the central bank, with a 0.25 percentage point implicit risk premium observed in the pricing of the federal funds rate by traders [3] Group 2: Fiscal Policy - Trump promoted his tax reform 2.0, which includes expanding the income tax exemption for tips, adjusting the Social Security tax threshold, and optimizing overtime tax treatment, claiming it would reduce taxes for auto industry workers by an average of $1,450 annually [3] - The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the full implementation of this proposal would reduce federal revenue by approximately $215 billion over the next decade, with 38% of the tax cuts benefiting the manufacturing sector [3] Group 3: Trade Policy - Trump defended his tariff policy, stating that a 25% tariff on imported cars and parts has led to a net increase of 42,000 jobs in the U.S. auto manufacturing sector, with Michigan accounting for 29% of this growth [4] - However, Bloomberg's economic research indicated that the average price of imported cars and parts rose by 17.3% during the same period, with consumers bearing about 62% of the tariff costs [4] Group 4: Market Reaction - During Trump's speech, the volatility of the dollar index rose to 112.5 basis points, the highest in nearly three months, while the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield briefly surpassed 4.38% before retreating, indicating investor caution regarding policy uncertainty [5] - The University of Michigan's consumer confidence index showed an increase in the five-year inflation expectations to 3.1%, the highest level since June 2023 [5]