By Kakidai - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
The United States and Japan have reached an agreement to continue discussions regarding US tariffs during ministerial talks in Washington, with another round of negotiations planned for later this month, as stated by Japan’s chief negotiator on Thursday.
Japan’s Economic Revitalization Minister, Akazawa Ryosei, who led his country’s delegation, engaged in initial trade negotiations with US officials in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday (local time).Following the discussions, Akazawa informed reporters that the president emphasized the importance of prioritizing tariff discussions with Japan, as reported by Japanese state media Kyodo.
US President Donald Trump, who participated in a session with the negotiators at the White House, characterized the meeting as a significant advancement. He shared on social media, “A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!”
During the talks, Akazawa met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in addition to his meeting with Trump prior to the ministerial-level discussions.These negotiations took place after Trump announced a 90-day suspension of “reciprocal” tariffs.
The Japanese minister conveyed Ishiba’s message during the meeting, expressing Tokyo’s desire to finalize an agreement promptly that would enhance both the Japanese and US economies.
Akazawa noted that both Tokyo and Washington are committed to developing a deal that can be publicly announced by the leaders of both nations. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism about building on the recent discussions in Washington for the upcoming round. “I am naturally considering a visit to the United States for discussions with President Trump regarding the tariff issue at the most suitable time,” he stated, according to a report from Kyodo.
Ishiba visited the United States from February 6 to 8, where he conducted his first in-person summit with President Trump in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump reached an agreement to continue discussions at the ministerial level regarding the import tariffs imposed by the U.S.
During the discussions with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Akazawa strongly urged the United States to reconsider the tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum, as well as the baseline 10 percent levy, as reported by Kyodo News agency.
On the same day, President Trump suggested that the longstanding bilateral security treaty could be a topic of discussion with Japan. A source from the Japanese government indicated that Trump mentioned the possibility of increasing Japan’s defense budget during the talks on Wednesday. Trump has called for Japan to contribute more towards hosting U.S. forces, characterizing the post-World War II agreement established in 1960 as “excessively one-sided.”
The Trump administration has included Japan among the trade partners affected by its extensive tariff policy, announced earlier this month, and has urged Tokyo to further open its market by relaxing non-tariff barriers, including auto safety regulations, subsidies, and the processes for importing and distributing rice. Trump has set a reciprocal tariff on Japanese imports at 24 percent.
Additionally, Trump has enacted a 25 percent tariff on automobiles manufactured outside the United States, along with a 25 percent levy on all imported steel and aluminum. As a result, Japan now faces a total tariff of 27.5 percent on passenger vehicles, significantly impacting a vital industry that represented nearly 30 percent of the country’s total exports to the United States by value last year.
