Tokyo’s laser focus on Lutnick pays off in US tariff talks

TOKYO/WASHINGTON — Japan and the U.S. sealed a trade agreement on Tuesday after Tokyo’s lead tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa focused his engagement on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the U.S. dealmaker thought to be closest to President Donald Trump.

Akazawa arrived in Washington Monday to conduct the eighth round of high-level meetings with Trump administration negotiators. The extended discussions began in April, with Akazawa coming to Washington almost every week during one stretch.