Japan, U.S. yet to find middle ground on tariffs but want quick deal
KYODO NEWS - 14 minutes ago - 10:00 | All, Japan, World
Japan and the United States have yet to find common ground on tariff issues but still aim to strike a deal of some sort in mid-June, Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Friday.
After holding talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister for economic revitalization, told reporters that he believes "further progress" was made.
Akazawa said no decision has been made on whether there will be another round of tariff talks next week or beyond.
Akazawa and Bessent, as well as Lutnick, whom the Japanese minister also met a day earlier, sat down to explore whether it may be feasible for the countries' leaders to reach a trade agreement during their meeting in about 10 days.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump plan to hold talks around the time of the three-day Group of Seven summit in Canada, which starts on June 15.
Akazawa, who is visiting the U.S. capital for the third straight week for a fifth round of ministerial-level tariff talks, has repeatedly said Japan will not accept a deal unless it benefits both countries.
On Thursday, Akazawa and Lutnick discussed "in detail" cooperation in three major areas -- trade, nontariff barriers and economic security -- during their 110-minute meeting, according to the Japanese government.
The government added that Akazawa, as he has done consistently in the talks, reiterated Japan's position that the Trump administration's additional tariffs must be removed.
Under Trump's so-called reciprocal tariff regime, announced April 2, almost all countries in the world have been hit by a baseline duty of 10 percent, with Japan facing an additional country-specific tariff of 14 percent for a total rate of 24 percent.
Along with other countries, Japan has also been affected by the Trump administration's extra 25 percent tariff on automobiles and other sector-based levies implemented on national security grounds.
Japan has presented a package of proposals to U.S. Cabinet members in the ongoing negotiations.
The package includes joint efforts to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals, cooperation in shipbuilding, expanding imports of U.S. farm products to Japan, and simplification of Japan's safety and environmental requirements for foreign-made cars.
Japan does not impose tariffs on imported cars, trucks or buses. However, the Trump administration has claimed American automakers' limited penetration into Japan's market is due to nontariff barriers, such as nonacceptance of certain U.S. standards.
Related coverage:
Japan calls for tariff rethink in talks with U.S. commerce chief
Trump's steel tariff hike not raised in Japan-U.S. talks: negotiator
Japan, U.S. agree tariff talks making progress toward deal
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