Japan presses Lutnick to implement agreed cut to U.S. auto tariffs
During a meeting in Washington that lasted about 90 minutes, Akazawa and Lutnick confirmed the importance of a recent bilateral trade deal and efforts to steadily carry out initiatives that will be in the "interests of both countries," the government said.
It said Akazawa also asked Lutnick to make sure the United States puts the terms of the deal into practice as agreed by both sides.
Akazawa's visit for his ninth round of talks with U.S. cabinet members comes two weeks after he and U.S. President Donald Trump struck the deal, under which his administration committed to lowering the so-called reciprocal tariff rate on Japanese goods, due to take effect on Thursday, to 15 percent from the threatened 25 percent.
At that time, Trump also agreed to cut auto tariffs to 15 percent for Japan in exchange for a promise to invest massively in the United States.
However, unlike the country-specific tariff rate, it remains unclear when the Trump administration plans to implement the lowered auto tariffs.
Akazawa, Japan's minister for economic revitalization, is scheduled to stay in the U.S. capital through Friday and may also hold talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
© KYODO
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