Japan government arranging for chief negotiator trip to US for tariff talks
This would be Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei's fifth trip to Washington for ministerial tariff talks.
Akazawa said he will have thorough discussions with his US counterparts and do everything he can to pave the way for a deal.
The minister said Japan cannot afford further delays, as the auto sector, a pillar of the nation's economy, started suffering losses. He said the fastest way to resolve the situation is for US President Donald Trump's administration to review the tariffs it imposed on Japan.
The Japanese government is exploring negotiation strategies in a bid to pave the way for the two countries' leaders to strike a deal on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada in mid-June.
Officials, however, said they are committed to prioritizing national interests. Akazawa said he would "make haste slowly." A senior foreign ministry official said the summit could mark a milestone, but it is not a deadline.
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