Japan’s Chief Tariff Negotiator Urges U.S. to Lift Auto Tariffs
(MENAFN) Japan’s chief tariff negotiator held two separate phone calls with the U.S. commerce secretary on the same day, signaling intensified efforts to break a deadlock in trade discussions, a local news agency reported Sunday.
Ryosei Akazawa and his U.S. counterpart Howard Lutnick spoke for approximately 15 minutes Saturday morning, followed by another 20-minute conversation in the evening, according to the news agency.
Their calls came just one day after Akazawa met Lutnick in person in Washington, as both nations attempted to resolve lingering disagreements over President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign automobiles and auto components.
Akazawa had flown to Washington on Thursday to participate in the seventh round of ministerial-level negotiations on the contentious tariffs. Though originally scheduled to return to Japan on Saturday, he extended his visit to accommodate a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Tokyo reaffirmed its determination to pursue a breakthrough in the talks, stating it would continue working "strenuously" with U.S. counterparts to reach a deal.
Japan’s central concern in the discussions is the steep tariff hike announced in April by the Trump administration on imported vehicles. Despite persistent pressure from Japan, the White House has shown no signs of backing away from these targeted levies, which also encompass duties on steel and aluminum, the news agency reported.
In 2024, Japan exported vehicles worth 16.2 trillion yen ($112 billion) globally, with 5.9 trillion yen ($39 billion) destined for the U.S., according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Japan has consistently pressed for the removal of the U.S.'s 25% import duty on automobiles. While a proposed 24% retaliatory tariff was temporarily suspended, Washington has maintained a 10% base tariff along with supplementary duties on metals.
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