Japan's envoy for the upcoming tariff talks will travel to Washington to meet senior US officials on Wednesday (16.04), the government confirmed, AFP reports.
Japan has not escaped President Donald Trump's trade blows despite the close strategic and economically being the biggest investor in the US.
The levies include a 25% duty on cars and a "reciprocal" 24% duty on most other Japanese imported goods - suspended last week for 90 days along with most other countries.
In addition, Japanese steel and aluminum imports into the world's largest economy are subject to a 25 percent duty, and Japan is included in Trump's 10 percent overall levy.
Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa "will leave for the US on April 16 and return on the 18th," a cabinet spokesman told AFP.
The spokesman gave no further details, but Akazawa is expected to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and Trade Representative Jamison Greer.
The visit comes after Trump suggested he might soften on the auto sector, adding he was "very flexible" and "looking for something to help some of the auto companies" hit by his 25 percent tariffs on all imports.
Akazawa, who holds an MBA from an American university, is reportedly close to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Besent said trade talks with Japan will be held on Wednesday and with South Korea next week.
"Everything will move quickly," Besent told Bloomberg Television.
South Korea's acting President Han Duk-soo said that while Washington remained "firm," it was "showing some flexibility in areas such as reciprocal tariffs and tariffs on individual goods."
"We have now entered a critical phase of negotiations with the US government," Han told a cabinet meeting.
"This global trade war led by the United States could eventually become a catalyst for improving the lives of our people and for increasing the competitiveness of South Korea's exports, depending on how we respond," he added.
Indonesia's Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced that he and other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Sugiono and Finance Minister Shri Mulyani Indrawati, will also leave for Washington on Wednesday. | BGNES
