Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Monday, 20 May 2025, that Japan continues to negotiate to remove US tariffs in ongoing bilateral trade discussions.
He emphasised that Tokyo will not finalise any agreement that could compromise national interests.
“The slew of US tariffs, including reciprocal tariffs as well as those on automobiles, car parts, steel, and aluminium, are regrettable. There’s no change to our stance of seeking a review, which is to say an elimination of them,” Akazawa said.
On 2 April 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 10% tariff on most countries, with Japan facing a 24% rate from July 2025.
Japanese officials have said a trade agreement will not be reached if the US does not lift the 25% tariffs on Japanese auto imports.
Although Japan was the first major economy to enter talks with the US, it has not yet reached a deal, unlike the UK. Meanwhile, China and the US have agreed on a 90-day truce in their trade war.
