Japan’s chief trade envoy postpones US trip as Tokyo calls for faster action on its tariffs deal

TOKYO: Japan’s top trade negotiator abruptly cancelled a trip to Washington aimed at issuing a joint statement on a tariff deal with the Trump administration, as a top government spokesman urged the US side to speed up implementation of the agreement.

Trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa was scheduled to leave Tokyo for Washington on Thursday for a 10th round of talks, following up on the agreement announced on July 22.

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi informed reporters that some details required further consultation, so the trip was postponed.

In July, the two sides agreed on a 15% tax on imports of most Japanese goods, effective Aug. 1, down from an earlier 25% rate announced by President Donald Trump as so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on the major US goods. Japanese officials discovered days later that the preliminary deal would add a 15% tariff to other tariffs and objected. Officials in Washington have acknowledged the mistake and agreed to abide by the agreement on a 15% tariff and to refund any excess import duties that were paid.

So far, that hasn’t happened.

“We will strongly request the United States to amend its presidential order to correct the reciprocal tariffs and to issue the presidential order to lower tariffs on autos and auto parts,” Hayashi said.

In an interview with Fox News earlier this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Washington was ready to finalise the deal, in which Japan also pledged to invest up to $550 billion in the United States in the coming years.

Plans for Akazawa to visit Washington are undecided, Hayashi said during a daily briefing, with another nudge at the Trump administration.

“Japan and the United States have confirmed the importance of sincere and prompt implementation of the agreement between the two countries,” he said, adding that a deal was essential for the economic security of both countries.

By RSS/AP