Japan’s Ishiba to press Trump to drop auto tariffs at G7 summit
The two are expected to meet on the sidelines of the meeting following a sixth round of high-level trade talks in Washington on Friday
Japan’s top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he explored the possibility of a deal in detailed meetings with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“I will make every possible effort to reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States,” Ishiba told reporters before leaving Japan. The timing of his meeting with Trump was still being discussed between the two countries, he added.
The trick for Ishiba, who spoke with Trump by phone on Friday, will be to get the president to drop the 25 per cent tariff he imposed on Japanese cars, as well as a paused 24 per cent across-the-board levy that Trump calls a reciprocal tariff, without making concessions that could hurt the prime minister’s public support at home.
Returning to Tokyo with no deal would be better politically than conceding too much, analysts say.
