Japan says no easy concession on US tariffs, seeks another round in June

31/5/2025 6:37

Japan and the U.S. on Friday agreed to hold another round of trade talks ahead of the G7 summit next month, Japan's top tariff negotiator said, stressing that no deal would be without concessions on all Washington's tariffs, including on autos.



Japan's Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for 130 minutes in a fourth round of the trade negotiations.



"We agreed to accelerate the talks and hold another round ahead of the G7 summit in June, where the leaders from Japan and the United States are set to meet," Akazawa told Japanese media gathered at the Japanese embassy in Washington.



The U.S. side, led by Bessent and Lutnick, called Friday's talks "frank and constructive."