Latest news with #JapanUSRelations
NHK
4 hours ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan government arranging for chief negotiator trip to US for tariff talks
Japan's government is arranging for the country's chief tariff negotiator to travel to the United States for the third straight week starting Thursday. 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.
NHK
3 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan, US eye more top-level tariff talks before G7 summit
Top officials from Japan and the United States have wrapped up another round of tariff talks in Washington. They agreed to work toward reaching a deal, possibly on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in mid-June. Japan's chief negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei, spoke for about two hours on Friday with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Akazawa repeated his firm call for a review of Washington's tariffs on Japan. He also pointed to progress in the talks, saying the two sides are now sufficiently aware of their respective stances following his fourth visit to the United States. The negotiators agreed to accelerate their work and meet again before the G7 convenes in Canada. They aim to prepare a deal for Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and US President Donald Trump to sign, possibly on the sidelines of the summit.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Tariff talks with U.S. a mix of slow progress, ever-present uncertainty
Both signs of progress and further uncertainty emerged in Japan's tariff negotiations with the United States, as the pace of high-level talks increased and a court order put most of the U.S. levies on shaky ground. Following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's second phone call in a week with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday , Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, reaffirmed that Japan's stance hasn't changed in calling for the tariffs to be eliminated. 'We intend to maintain that stance while also doing our utmost to find common ground,' Akazawa, who is also economic revitalization minister, told reporters after landing in Washington on Thursday. 'We'd like to proceed with confidence in the negotiations.' On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan ruled Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs to be unlawful , arguing the president had exceeded his authority to impose tariffs by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The ruling came as a major blow to Trump's tariff plan, and added an extra layer of uncertainty as dozens of countries anxiously moved forward in trade negotiations with Washington. Wall Street opened higher on Thursday as the court order blocked most of Trump's tariffs, but fell back later in the day after a federal appeals court granted a temporary stay allowing the tariffs to remain in place during the appeals process. 'At this point, no final judicial decision has been made,' Akazawa said, noting the levels of escalation in the U.S. court system. 'Going forward, we intend to continue gathering the necessary information thoroughly, conducting proper analysis and responding appropriately.' Akazawa has suggested the possibility of buying more defense equipment from the U.S. as a way of reducing Japan's trade surplus with the U.S. | JIJI Bruce Aronson, a senior adviser at New York University's U.S.-Asia Law Institute, doubts the court decision will be very meaningful for Japan, as the 25% tariffs on automobiles, auto parts, steel and aluminum were not covered by the court order, and even the tariffs in question can be replaced by the Trump administration using other statutes. 'On first impression, you might think it helps strengthen Japan's hand, because the court ruled the 10% and the reciprocal tariffs are both illegal. On the other hand, at least some of them could be replaced by non-emergency tariffs over time,' Aronson said. 'Japan is not entirely off the hook for some of these things.' Japan continued to sweeten the pot in negotiations with the United States. It might offer aid in shipbuilding and buying more semiconductors from the U.S. as part of the negotiation, according to multiple news reports. Several reports after Ishiba and Trump's earlier call last week indicated the U.S. president might have pitched the F-47, Boeing's next-generation fighter, to Japan. Akazawa declined to comment on whether the jets had become a topic of discussion in the trade talks when asked by The Japan Times on Monday, while stressing Tokyo's stance that defense issues and trade talks should remain separate . On Thursday, he did suggest the possibility of buying more defense equipment from the U.S., saying that could be a way to reduce Japan's trade surplus with the U.S. He is set to hold a fourth round of high-level tariff talks with U.S. officials, meeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday morning in Washington.
NHK
4 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Ishiba has phone talks with Trump before next round of tariff negotiations
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has restated his government's position over US tariff measures during a phone call with President Donald Trump. The leaders agreed to deepen discussions between ministers in charge from both nations. The roughly 30-minute conversation took place at Ishiba's request on Thursday. It came before senior Japanese and US officials meet in the United States on Friday to discuss the Trump administration's tariff arrangements. Ishiba told Trump that Japan's investment serves the national interests of both countries such as creating jobs in the US and leading to the development of quality products. Speaking to reporters after the call, Ishiba described the conversation, which followed phone talks between the leaders last week, as very meaningful. He said he and Trump exchanged candid opinions in a friendly atmosphere. He said the two also deepened their mutual understanding. Ishiba also told reporters that he wants to continue working with Trump to further reinforce the alliance and cooperative relationship between Japan and the US. He said such efforts will allow the two sides to make greater contributions to global peace, stability and prosperity. Referring to the ongoing tariff negotiations, Ishiba stressed that his government has been consistently emphasizing that investment is more important than tariffs. He said there had been no change in Japan's position of seeking to establish a win-win relationship. Ishiba also referred to the Group of Seven summit to be held in Canada in mid-June. He said he hopes to meet Trump in person on the sidelines of the gathering. He added that he may even travel to the US to meet the president before the summit, if necessary.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Japan PM Ishiba, Trump exchange views on tariffs over phone
TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he exchanged views on tariff issues with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on Thursday. Ishiba also said the talks were "meaningful" as the two leaders further deepened their understanding of each other's views. This was their second call this month, following one on May 23, as a fourth round of tariff negotiations between the two nations is set to take place.
