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Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held a 30-minute phone call on Saturday, discussing prospects for a bilateral trade agreement, according to a statement from the Japanese government. The conversation was described as “very in-depth,” with both sides exploring the potential for a mutually beneficial deal.
The call followed Akazawa’s in-person meetings on Friday with Lutnick and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo. Akazawa had previously told reporters those meetings were detailed and marked progress toward a potential trade pact. The timing of the discussions is strategic, aligning with an anticipated meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, which begins Sunday.
Japan is under pressure to secure an agreement before July, when a 24% U.S. tariff on Japanese goods is set to take effect. Of particular concern to Tokyo is the U.S. plan to impose a 25% tariff on automobiles, a move that would severely impact Japan’s auto industry—one of the country’s largest economic sectors.
Officials on both sides appear eager to find common ground, with Japan hoping to finalize a deal during the summit to avoid the looming tariffs. The Japanese government reiterated its commitment to achieving a resolution that would preserve its economic interests while strengthening trade ties with the United States.
These developments underscore intensifying efforts by both nations to ease trade tensions and prevent further disruption to key industries. As the G7 Summit approaches, all eyes are on whether high-level diplomacy can deliver a breakthrough in the ongoing U.S.–Japan trade negotiations.
