Japan’s tariff envoy to visit US next week again, sources say

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By Yoshifumi Takemoto and Kantaro Komiya

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa intends to visit the United States again on May 30 for a fourth round of trade talks, just one week after this weekend’s visit, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. 

During the trip next week, Akazawa aims to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whom the sources said will not be able to join Friday’s third round of talks involving Akazawa, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Ahead of the talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a 45-minute phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump upon Trump’s request, where the two discussed tariffs, economic cooperation and security issues, Ishiba said.

“Our stance to demand the elimination of tariffs remains unchanged, and there was no detailed mention of that from (Trump),” Ishiba told reporters after the call. But also unchanged is Japan’s policy to cooperate with U.S. on investment and job creation there, he said.

The two exchanged hopes for an in-person meeting during the Group of Seven summit scheduled next month in Canada, Ishiba said, adding he might also visit the U.S. to meet Trump.

A significant divide persists between Washington, which remains reluctant to cut its auto and steel tariffs, and Tokyo, which has asked for their abolition.

“An agreement requires mutually ‘win-win’ or acceptable terms, so we aim to find common ground after thoroughly considering the U.S. side’s proposals and perspectives,” Economic Revitalisation Minister Akazawa told reporters on Friday before departing for Washington.

When asked if Bessent would be at the third talks, Akazawa said only that attendance of U.S. counterparts should depend on each official’s schedule.

In an earlier unofficial phone conversation, Bessent had expressed reluctance to meet with Akazawa until next week, TV Tokyo reported on Thursday citing government officials, without detailing reasons.

To protect the auto industry, the backbone of its economy, Japan is prepared to offer cooperation in shipbuilding, lighter certification requirements for imported vehicles, and higher imports of corn and soybeans, one of the sources told Reuters.

(Reporting by Yoshifumi Takemoto and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Tom Hogue and Christopher Cushing)