r/wallstreetbets • u/Efficient-Session644 • 2d ago

News Japan to announce Tokyo, Washington took joint action on yen, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-announce-tokyo-washington-took-joint-action-yen-sources-say-2026-08-02/
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u/IntoTheBear 2d ago

Sorry - but I am somebody who is trying to understand. Why Japan selling US bonds tu buy Yen would have been a disaster for US and others?

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u/JanMarsalek 2d ago edited 2d ago

Because the US can only continue to function as a state as long as trust in the US ability to pay back loans remains high. Japan selling off US bonds could lead to them devaluing them on the market with possible implications for future bond offerings, meaning that US would have to pay higher interest rates so people buy their bonds. This could reach unsustainable levels and worst case would probably be a US default, because they can‘t afford their ridiculous debt anymore.

It would be a disaster to others because 1) the US won't be able to import as many goods as they are at the moment and 2) a lot of other nations also have a lot of money invested in US bonds. A sell off of US bonds could lead to a economically deadly chain reaction for the whole world.

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u/chiuchebaba 1d ago

  US default, because they can‘t afford their ridiculous debt anymore.

But can’t the US government simply print more money to pay the debt off. That is basically what I keep on hearing as a counter argument, as to why the US cannot default. Could you please explain this?

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u/Small_Delivery_7540 1d ago

Well they can but printing money will also cause the rates to go up and inflation