Japan seeks possibility of trade deal with U.S. as G7 nears
Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he sought the possibility of a trade agreement with his U.S. counterparts through detailed discussions in Washington, while giving no clue over whether the two nations' leaders may announce a deal at an expected summit in the coming days.
Akazawa met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for 70 minutes and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for 45 minutes, respectively, in Washington on Friday, hours after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had talks on tariffs by phone with President Donald Trump.
"To achieve an agreement that is mutually beneficial, we engaged in very in-depth discussions with the two ministers and explored the possibility of reaching an agreement,' Akazawa told reporters after the sixth round of trade negotiations. "We further deepened discussions on issues such as expanding bilateral trade, nontariff measures, and cooperation on economic security.'
Akazawa declined to say if a path toward a deal is in sight or comment on whether Ishiba and Trump may announce a deal on the sidelines of the Group of Seven gathering in Canada starting Sunday. Akazawa said he may join the prime minister in Canada.
The Trump administration has a 25% tariff on imported cars and auto parts and a 50% levy on steel and aluminum. A 10% across-the-board duty on other goods from Japan will rise to 24% on July 9 barring a deal.
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