Japan PM to meet Bessent on Friday, Yomiuri says

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Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks next to Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa during a meeting with cabinet ministers to discuss Japans strategy in dealing with U.S. tariffs, at Ishibas official residence in Tokyo, Japan July 8, 2025, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is arranging to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo on Friday, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday, ahead of an August 1 deadline to strike a trade deal with the United States.

A separate Yomiuri report said European Union leaders will visit Ishiba later this month to sign an alliance advocating global free trade, seeking multilateral ties as U.S. tariffs add to trade risks.

Bessent is set to travel to Japan to attend the U.S. national day at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, scheduled for July 19, skipping a concurrent Group of 20 finance officials meeting in South Africa, U.S. Treasury said last week.

Bessent would lead the U.S. delegation, which will also include Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, according to the White House.

Japans top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is also expected to meet with Bessent, Yomiuri added, citing an unnamed government source. Despite seven U.S. visits since April, Akazawa has yet to secure a trade agreement with Washington.

Reuters has not independently confirmed these planned meetings during Bessents Japan trip.