The EUR/JPY currency pair has seen a notable increase, reaching approximately 161.15 during the early hours of the European trading session. This rise comes as the Japanese Yen (JPY) shows signs of weakness against the EURO (EUR) amidst a favorable risk sentiment, following the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the postponement of tariffs on automotive imports from Canada and Mexico for one month.
The White House has communicated that it will give US automakers an additional month to meet the requirements of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The tariffs levied on imports from Canada and Mexico are now postponed, which has invigorated investor confidence and led to a heightened appetite for riskier assets. Consequently, this environment has contributed to the decline of traditionally safe-haven currencies, such as the Yen.
In addition to this, there are rising worries about potential tariff threats aimed at Japan. President Trump has indicated concerns about Japan and China potentially undervaluing their currencies, which may prompt him to consider new tariffs on imports if the situation persists. Such comments add to the already existing uncertainty regarding the future value of the yen.
However, the potential for further gains in the EUR/JPY pair might be limited by increasing speculation about the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) monetary policy direction. The BoJ is expected to pursue a path of rate hikes throughout the year, supported by positive signs in economic performance, increasing prices, and enhanced wage growth—factors that align with their strategy for policy normalization.
On the European front, the European Central Bank (ECB) is widely anticipated to implement a second interest rate cut this year during the upcoming meeting in March. Financial markets are currently factoring in a quarter-point reduction, which would adjust the ECB’s key interest rate to 2.5%. There are also discussions about the possibility of further lowering rates to around 2% by the close of the year, adding another layer of complexity to the currency dynamics.
