Japan to keep pressing for tariff relief during 90 day pause

TOKYO – Japan will continue to urge the US to rethink its tariff plans in hopes of winning a longer-term reprieve from higher rates that President Donald Trump put on hold, the nation’s top trade representative said.

“There is no change in Japan’s policy,” said economic revitalisation minister Ryosei Akazawa who was this week appointed the country’s top negotiator on the US levies. “We will pursue Japan’s national interests to the maximum extent without panicking or making a fuss.”

The 90-day pause removes higher across-the-board levies on goods imported to the US from Japan and many other countries for now, while leaving a baseline 10 per cent duty in place. Japan had faced a 24 per cent duty.

The temporary retreat came just hours after Mr Trump’s introduction of the barrage of levies spooked investors, triggering market ructions, and prompting government officials around the world to convene meetings aimed at calming nerves.

Tokyo is expected to be among nations taking priority in trade negotiations with Washington. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would be speaking to officials from Japan, Vietnam, India and South Korea in the coming days.

Japan still faces a 25 per cent tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum, while other goods remain subject to the 10 per cent flat tax rate applied to all nations. Japanese officials are concerned that the tariffs, especially on autos, pose a grave threat to the nation’s economy.

Japan sees the pause on some of the tariffs as a positive development, but will continue to call for a review of the levies that remain in place, said Mr Akazawa, who also serves as minister for economic revitalization. BLOOMBERG