Japan formally revokes Russia’s ‘most favored nation’ status

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has formally revoked Russia’s “most favored nation” trade status over its invasion of Ukraine, as Tokyo steps up sanctions amid revelations of Russian military atrocities against civilians. The stripping of Russia’s most favored nation trade status on Wednesday is Japan’s latest move against Moscow and part of sanctions that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last month that also included a decision to expel eight Russian diplomats and trade officials. They were taken by bus on Wednesday from the Russian Embassy to Tokyo’s airport, where they took a Russian government plane home.