President Trump said Japan is set to kick off tariff negotiations with the US in Washington on Wednesday — becoming one of the first countries to test his willingness to relent on the sweeping tariffs.
“Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS’,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Japan’s Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa, the country’s envoy for upcoming tariff talks with the US, speaks to the media ahead of his flight to the US, at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda on April 16, 2025. JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images
Trump praised the upcoming talks in a Truth Social post Wednesday. WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”
It comes a day after the Trump administration said it had been presented with offers from at least 15 nations for bespoke trade deals following the president’s announcement last week of a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.
More than 75 countries have reached out to request talks, too.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is slated to join the talks with Tokyo’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, has said there is a “first mover advantage” given the number of countries trying to hash out deals.
Ahead of the 90-day pause, Japan was hit with 24% levies on exports to the US. A 10% universal rate still remains in place, though, as does a 25% duty for cars — a mainstay of Japan’s export economy.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had said Monday that his country wouldn’t be rushing into a deal – and didn’t plan on making huge concessions.
U.S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaves Argentina’s Economy Ministry to head to the government house in Buenos Aires, Monday, April 14, 2025. AP
Still, Ishiba has, at least for now, ruled out retaliatory tariffs.
The exact scope of Wednesday’s discussions wasn’t immediately clear.
The White House has already said it wants to resolve other issues with its close ally, including amount Tokyo pays towards the cost of hosting US troops in Japan.
The sitdown could also address energy projects and the thorny issue of exchange rates.
With Post wires
AloJapan.com