On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that Tokyo is looking to expedite tariff negotiations with the United States, with the intent of securing a resolution during the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit next month.
In related developments, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, recently completed the third round of discussions with U.S. officials in Washington on Friday.
During a press briefing in Kyoto, Ishiba reported that negotiations are moving forward, highlighting advancements in trade expansion, non-tariff barriers, and economic security frameworks.
“We aim to further refine our discussions with the G7 summit in view,” he stated.
Ishiba also shared details of a 45-minute telephone conversation he had with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, where they covered topics related to security, diplomacy, and tariffs, while expressing mutual interest in meeting face-to-face at the G7 gathering.
Furthermore, Ishiba emphasized Japan’s readiness to collaborate in the shipbuilding sector. He noted that the U.S. is considering the possibility of conducting repairs on its naval vessels in Japan, and that Japan is keen to support this initiative.
He pointed out Japan’s expertise in icebreakers, which are critical for operations on Arctic trade routes, indicating a potential area for collaboration with the U.S.
Meanwhile, Akazawa stated on Sunday that the timeline for future Japan-U.S. talks is currently being organized. He expressed hopes of meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his next visit to the United States.
After returning from Washington, Akazawa addressed reporters at Haneda Airport, emphasizing that an agreement will only be reached when all factors are collectively addressed, indicating that nothing is finalized until every issue is resolved.
“Thus, I will refrain from commenting on our progress,” he added.
