TOKYO/BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey ¨C Japan¡¯s top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, held ¡°in-depth exchanges¡± over the phone with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday and Saturday, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba doubled down on a refusal to compromise on his country¡¯s national interests.
A pause on a 24% ¡°reciprocal tariff¡± on imports from Japan expires on July 9, although U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the rate could be even higher.
The Japanese government also said in a statement that it intends to continue actively coordinating with the U.S. side on the matter, as it worked to avert higher tariffs.
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