Japanese Finance Minister Kato claims that Japan's holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds could become a bargaining chip in trade negotiations.

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said that Japan's holdings of U.S. treasuries could become a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the United States. He made the statement while answering a question from a reporter during a television program on Friday. When asked if Japan's reluctance to sell U.S. treasuries could be seen as a negotiating tool, Aso replied, "Indeed, it is a possibility. But whether to use this tool is another matter." Aso also emphasized that Japan's holdings of U.S. treasuries are not specifically intended to support the United States.