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

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

April 9, 2025 03:14 JST

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.