Japan’s trade negotiator cancels US visit over tariff deal snag

August 28, 2025 10:49 AM

Japan’s trade negotiator cancels US visit over tariff deal snag

Japan's top trade negotiator cancelled a visit to the United States at the last minute on Thursday, further delaying talks designed to finalise a $550 billion investment package offered by Tokyo in exchange for relief on punishing tariffs. Ryosei Akazawa was due to fly to Washington to craft a written confirmation of the terms of the package, such as the split of investment returns between the U.S. and Japan, a government source previously told Reuters. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick h...

Tokyo Holds Firm: Japan Demands Full Removal of U.S. Tariffs

May 20, 2025 9:09 AM

Tokyo Holds Firm: Japan Demands Full Removal of U.S. Tariffs

Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Tuesday there was no change to Tokyo's stance of demanding an elimination of U.S. tariffs in bilateral trade negotiations. Tokyo will not rush into clinching a trade deal if doing so risked hurting the country's interests, he said. "The slew of U.S. 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 eli...