US guidance does not mention additional tariff exemption for Japan
But the U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance states that goods from the European Union, which struck a similar trade deal with the United States on July 27, a few days after Japan, will not be subject to additional tariffs.
An executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump last week modifying his administration's so-called reciprocal tariff rates, effective Thursday, also mentioned that imports from the EU would not face duties in addition to a 15 percent tariff rate, but it made no reference to Japan.
Under the deal with the Trump administration, beef imports from Japan, for example, will continue to be taxed at 26.4 percent, so the new 15 percent tariff rate will not be added on top, according to Japanese officials.
It remains unclear whether the terms of the agreement are being interpreted differently, something denied by Japanese officials.
Given there is no written agreement between Japan and the United States, some Japanese opposition lawmakers have criticized the government for failing to minimize the risk of misunderstandings with the Trump administration over the implementation of tariffs.
During a parliamentary panel session in Tokyo on Tuesday, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, repeatedly stressed, "There is no discrepancy."
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