Japan's top tariff negotiator readies policy cards for Bessent talks

Ryosei Akazawa, loyal Ishiba aide, shoulders Tokyo's hopes for a deal on tariffs

20250408N Akazawa Bessent

Japan's Ryosei Akazawa, a career policymaker and lawmaker, will negotiate on tariffs with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a former hedge fund manager. (Source photos by Uichiro Kasai and Reuters)

RYUTO IMAO

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has chosen close aide and economic policy point man Ryosei Akazawa to lead tariff negotiations with the U.S., signaling an intention to use any and all tools to defuse the risk to Japan's economy.

Akazawa, whose serves as minister of state for economic and fiscal policy, warned Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs could weigh down Japanese exports and the global economy. Akazawa told lawmakers that he would maintain "a sense of urgency."

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