Japan, U.S. yet to find middle ground on tariffs but want quick deal

Tokyo's chief tariff negotiator Akazawa says, 'further progress' was made

Japan's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa tells reporters he believes 'further progress' was made after holding talks with his U.S. counterparts in Washington on June 6.

June 7, 2025 10:14 JST

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- Japan and the United States have yet to find common ground on tariff issues but still aim to strike a deal of some sort in mid-June, Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Friday.

After holding talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister for economic revitalization, told reporters that he believes "further progress" was made.