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.
AloJapan.com