Japan’s chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said the country can’t accept the U.S.’ 25% tariffs on cars, adding that the Asian nation’s automakers produce far more cars in the U.S. than they export to America, the Japan Times reported. Japanese automakers make roughly 3.3 million cars in the U.S. a year, a number that’s far larger than the 1.37 million that they ship there, Akazawa told reporters on Thursday before he left for Washington, D.C. to hold his seventh round of trade negotiations with U.S. counterparts. The companies have invested more than $60 billion in the U.S.

Job vacancies in Australia rebounded in the May quarter, led by openings in the construction and professional sectors, data showed on Thursday, in a sign demand for labour remained resilient despite a soft economy, Reuters reported. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed vacancies bounced 2.9% in the three months to May, partly reversing a 4.3% drop in the previous quarter ended February. Job openings were still down 2.8% from May last year at 339,400, but that was the smallest annual decline in the past two years.

Thailand’s central bank held interest rates steady amid renewed political tensions at home and growing uncertainty abroad, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy committee voted six to one to maintain its policy rate at 1.75%, following two consecutive cuts. One member voted in favor of easing. Noting that its previous cuts have “already provided some cushion against the prevailing risks,” the central bank highlighted risks related to U.S.

Premier Li Qiang has projected confidence that China can turn consumption into a driver for the economy, while also portraying his nation as a stabilizing force in a rapidly shifting global trade landscape, Bloomberg News reported. Policymakers were growing the nation “into a mega-sized consumer powerhouse on top of its solid foundation as a manufacturing power,” Li said in a speech at the World Economic Forum’s meeting in Tianjin on Wednesday.

Inflation pressures across the Australian economy continued to abate in May, setting the stage for a third cut in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia next month, the Wall Street Journal reported. The monthly CPI indicator rose by just 2.1% in the 12 months to May, following a 2.4% rise in the 12 months to April. Annual trimmed mean inflation was 2.4% in May, down from 2.8% in April. The RBA cut interest rates by 25 basis points in May, highlighting the growing risks to world growth from the U.S. policy on tariffs and rising geopolitical risks.

The Bank of Japan should consider additional interest-rate hikes without delay, board member Naoki Tamura said, as it could hit its inflation target sooner than expected, the Wall Street Journal reported. “My basic thinking is that the bank will analyze the data and various information without preconceptions, and will accordingly raise the policy interest rate and adjust the degree of monetary accommodation in a timely and appropriate manner in line with improvements in economic activity and prices, without haste or delay,” he said Wednesday.

Australia's financial crimes monitoring agency said on Wednesday that it has identified 90 scam victims, money mules and suspected offenders as the top crypto ATM users in the country, amid efforts to address crimes enabled by digital currency, Reuters reported. A nationwide operation led by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) examined the most prolific crypto ATM users in each state, and based on the transaction values, identified cases likely linked to scams or fraud.

Bento shops have been hit hard by inflation and a weak economy as stagflation takes hold in Japan and makes business difficult for even the most humble of establishments, the Japan Times reported. According to Teikoku Databank, 22 bento shops went bankrupt from January to May, compared to 21 in the same period last year. Bentos — set lunches normally served in box-like containers — are popular in Japan with students, workers and businesspeople on the go and others looking for a quick and cheap meal. They are available at supermarkets, convenience stores and dedicated bento shops.