Latest news with #AkazawaRyosei
NHK
15 hours ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan's top negotiator visits White House for trade talks
Japan's top tariff negotiator visited the White House on Tuesday. Japanese government sources said he is believed to have met with US President Donald Trump. Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei is in Washington for another round of trade discussions. He held a two-hour meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick the day before. He also met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier on Tuesday. In an interview with the Fox Business Network before that meeting, Bessent said trade negotiations with Japan were "going very well." He described the Japanese side as "tough negotiators," and added that Tokyo has "really come to the table." Trump is ramping up negotiations with other trading partners. He posted on social media that the United States has "concluded" a deal with the Philippines. It includes Manila paying a 19 percent tariff and the two countries working together militarily. Washington's August 12 tariff deadline with China is also approaching. Bessent said he will meet his Chinese counterparts next week in Stockholm, and he will be working out what is "likely an extension" of the deadline. The meeting is planned for Monday and Tuesday.
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Akazawa in Washington for trade talks after weekend's election
Japan's top tariff negotiator arrived in Washington on Monday to seek another round of trade talks, on the heels of a weak showing for the country's ruling coalition during the Upper House election over the weekend. Tokyo wants to strike a deal before US President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline for 25 percent tariffs. Shortly after landing, Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei told reporters, "These are negotiations involving our national interests, so whether we won or lost an election is fundamentally irrelevant." He added, "We will continue vigorous discussions to find a mutually agreeable solution between Japan and the United States, while firmly protecting our interests." It is Akazawa's eighth trip to the US capital to negotiate tariffs. He would like to hold talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. But Bessent said in a CNBC interview on Monday that he does not intend to rush the negotiations. He noted that the US is more concerned with getting "high quality deals" than meeting the deadline. He also said that regardless of the election's outcome, Washington is prioritizing "getting the best deal for the American people."
NHK
4 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan's top negotiator for tariff talks to visit US early next week
Japan's top negotiator for trade talks with the United States plans to visit Washington early next week before the US imposes a 25-percent tariff on imports from Japan starting August 1. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei spoke to reporters after joining US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a US National Day event at the World Expo in Osaka on Saturday. Akazawa said they did not discuss tariffs this time as Bessent is visiting Japan as part of the US delegation to the expo. But he said they discussed a wide range of topics and built strong trust. Referring to the August 1 deadline for what US President Donald Trump calls "reciprocal" tariffs, Akazawa said he will energetically continue efforts to find common ground while protecting Japan's interests. He added that if circumstances allow, he will visit Washington again early next week for talks with his US counterparts.
NHK
5 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba meets US Treasury Secretary Bessent
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo. Ishiba called for continued tariff negotiations so the two countries can reach a deal that benefits both sides. Bessent is visiting Japan to attend the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, western Japan. Ishiba welcomed him at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday. They posed for photos before heading for talks that lasted over 30 minutes. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei joined the meeting. He is serving as Japan's top negotiator on the US tariffs. Ishiba and Bessent affirmed that the two countries will seek stronger ties on the economy, security and other areas. After the meeting, Ishiba told reporters he asked Bessent to continue negotiations energetically with Akazawa, in order to reach an agreement that benefits both sides. Ishiba said that although no date has been set for a meeting or other form of contact with US President Donald Trump, he believes there will of course be an opportunity for him to directly talk with the president, with Japan's national interest at stake. Trump has notified Ishiba that he plans to impose a tariff of 25 percent on Japanese imports from August 1. The Japanese government is hoping to reach an agreement with the Trump administration by communicating at various levels. But government sources say Bessent will not engage in ministerial talks with Japan during this visit, as he is making the trip as part of the US delegation to the World Expo. The sources say Washington is now studying Tokyo's proposal to make massive investments and import more American goods to reduce the trade deficit the United States has with Japan. The Japanese government is said to be considering sending Akazawa back to the US soon to seek progress in negotiations.
NHK
6 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan's top negotiator, US Commerce chief hold phone talks
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have agreed to continue deep discussions of US tariff measures. The Japanese government said the two officials talked over the phone for about 45 minutes on Thursday morning Japan time. The talks came after US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington will start imposing a 25-percent tariff on Japanese imports starting August 1 as notified in his letter, unless Japan opens up its market. Both sides reaffirmed their respective positions on US tariff measures and agreed to continue dialogue. On Thursday evening, Akazawa reported the progress of tariff negotiations with the US to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa at the Prime Minister's Office. Akazawa told reporters after the meeting that he had received various instructions from Ishiba, but he declined to provide details. Regarding the August 1 deadline for what Trump calls "reciprocal" tariffs, Akazawa said Japan has national interests that cannot be compromised and that no concessions will be made even though a specific deadline has been set. He went on to say that Japan will continue efforts to find common ground, on which both countries will be able to agree. Meanwhile, Japanese government officials said the prime minister is expected to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday. Bessent will visit Japan as part of a US delegation visiting the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
