Japan’s top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said they have started the tariff negotiations with the US and hope to reach a deal soon.
Akazawa met with US President Donald Trump before holding trade talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to seek a reprieve from the Trump administration’s tariffs.
The talks did not result in an immediate halt on the tariffs, but preparations are underway for the second round of talks to take place later this month, Akazawa said in Washington on April 16.
Japan is one of the first nations to start formal negotiations over the US tariffs, with many nations closely watching the developments.
Despite Tokyo’s repeated pleas for an exemption, Trump has already slapped a 25% tariff on steel, aluminium and cars.
He also imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners before abruptly putting a 90-day hold on that levy shortly after it came into effect. Japan was initially hit with a 24% levy before the reprieve, although a 10% baseline tariff remains in place.
The date of the next meeting is yet to be set, but the US appeared to be looking to seal a deal before the end of the 90-day reprieve of the so-called reciprocal tariffs, he added.
