WASHINGTON: Prime US and Japanese officers agreed to start out fast working-level consultations after “frank and constructive” trade talks in Washington on Thursday (Might 1), the US Treasury Division mentioned on Friday, however Japanese accounts had been extra downbeat.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer met with Japan’s Financial Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, one other set of discussions sought by US buying and selling companions to avert excessive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump final month.
“Throughout their frank and constructive discussions on honest and reciprocal commerce, Secretary Bessent highlighted to Minister Akazawa each tariffs and non-tariff measures, the significance of financial safety as nationwide safety, and different problems with concern,” Treasury mentioned in a press release.
Bessent, in a posting on X, mentioned he was “extremely inspired by Japan’s quick and optimistic engagement with the US” and expressed hope that the 2 allies might quickly attain consensus on a variety of bilateral points.
Greer additionally welcomed Japan’s engagement in discussions with the US and reaffirmed the robust bilateral relationship between the US and Japan.
Nevertheless, Japanese accounts of the assembly struck a extra cautious tone. The Nikkei newspaper reported earlier on Friday that US tariff negotiators appeared reluctant to lower levies on automobiles, metal and aluminium in Thursday’s assembly, a stance that made the Japanese facet really feel that cooperation may very well be tough.
Richard Katz, a former senior fellow at Carnegie Council for Ethics In Worldwide Affairs, mentioned the US refusal to even focus on Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on autos and auto components, metal, and aluminium was “fairly an aggressive stance”.
