Japan's trade minister heads to Washington for tariff talks.
Japanese officials are visiting Washington this week to negotiate with the Trump administration ahead of sweeping U.S. tariffs that are set to affect exports, including metals and cars, from Japan and a number of other countries.
Japan's trade minister, Yoji Muto, is scheduled to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday, according to a person familiar with the official's itinerary who requested anonymity to discuss plans that could still change. Japan's public broadcaster NHK also reported on the details of the meeting.
The meeting is expected to take place two days before the United States is set to impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports. In addition to seeking exemptions from these tariffs, Mr. Muto is expected to request relief from a potential 25 percent tariff on foreign cars — a measure President Trump has indicated could take effect as soon as April 2.
Of all those measures, the auto tariffs would hit Japan's economy the hardest. Automobiles are the country's largest export, and the United States is their top destination. Analysts say that Japan and South Korea, another major car manufacturer, are likely to be most heavily impacted by the policy.
At a news conference on Friday, Mr. Muto said he hoped to establish a 'win-win' relationship with the United States during his visit this week. Given the central importance of the auto industry to Japan's economy, he said, 'our main request to the United States is that we continue to build industries together.'
Japan has been considering using potential investments in a $44 billion plan to produce and export natural gas from Alaska as a negotiating tool with the United States. When President Trump addressed Congress last week, he said that Japan and South Korea want to work with the United States on the long-stalled project, known as Alaska L.N.G.
A spokeswoman for Japan's economy ministry declined to comment on the specifics of Mr. Muto's meetings or their timing.
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