The first U.S.-Japan coordinated purchases of yen in decades was ¡°a signal of friendship,¡± according to U.S. President Donald Trump. ¡°The Trump administration delivers for America¡¯s trusted partners,¡± Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Most observers doubt it was so simple.

¡°We know what the profile of Mr. Trump is ¡ª there are no free lunches,¡± said Jonathan Fortun, a senior economist at the Institute of International Finance in Washington.