US-China tariff talks leave Japan worrying about taking back seat

Tokyo risks being squeezed out of limited schedule if China becomes priority

20250513N Ryosei Akazawa

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's lead negotiator in tariff talks with the U.S., said that Washington still sees Tokyo as important. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)

CHIHIRO UCHIYAMA

TOKYO -- After the U.S. reached tariff deals with the U.K. last week and China on Monday, concerns are growing in Japan that its trade negotiations with Washington could take longer, dimming hopes of Tokyo being at the head of the line.

Washington and Beijing agreed Monday to slash their new tariffs on each other by 115 percentage points, with 24 percentage points of those levies to be placed on a 90-day pause. Talks are expected to proceed in earnest, focusing on dealing with China's overcapacity and having the country open its markets to more U.S. goods.

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