Japan, US to likely hold working-level talks next week on Trump's tariffs
The Japanese and US governments are planning to hold working-level talks next week over US tariff measures.
Officials are making arrangements for the talks in Washington, to be followed by negotiations on May 2. The two sides will lay the groundwork for the next ministerial talks on the issue.
Japan's top tariff negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei, agreed with the US side that they will hold a third round of ministerial talks in mid-May or later after intensive negotiations at the working level.
He said at the Diet on Wednesday that a strategic approach needs to be taken after grasping the interests of the partner country and its domestic circumstances. He also said Tokyo will tackle the matter while considering what is the most effective among all options.
At the planned working-level negotiations, Japanese officials want to set the schedule for the third ministerial talks.
In the past talks, Japan proposed a review of its rules to make it easier to import American vehicles. It also broached expanding imports of corn and soybeans. The US presented a list of what it identified as Japan's "nontariff barriers."
Working-level officials are expected to discuss the details of those points and Japan will seek common ground with the US.
The Japanese government intends to communicate with the US at various levels.
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro will visit Washington from Thursday to meet with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Tariffs will likely be among the topics in their meeting.
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