Japan warms to lower US tariffs after pushing for full elimination

Trade deals with China and the UK prompt a change of heart in Tokyo

20250516N Man in front of containership

A man walks near a container ship at a port in Tokyo. © Reuters

RIEKO MIKI

TOKYO -- Japanese negotiators have signaled a willingness to discuss only a partial reduction in the Trump administration's tariffs after American officials stood their ground against eliminating them altogether.

The shift in strategy was prompted by the tariff agreement that the U.S. announced with the U.K. on May 8 and the U.S.-China truce unveiled Monday. Both deals left a portion of the Trump administration's additional tariffs in place.

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