Japan races against time to avoid US car tariffs as clock ticks down on trade talks
Japan’s top envoy flew to Washington for last-ditch talks, but Trump’s ‘Dear Mr Japan’ remarks signal a tough road ahead
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief trade envoy on the issue, flew into the US capital on Thursday and spoke twice to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by phone over the weekend. But he failed to secure a meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent or make any clear progress.
Trump announced earlier this year that he would increase the tariff on imported vehicles from 2.5 per cent to 27.5 per cent – a move that was temporarily paused for 90 days to allow negotiations. That window closes on July 9, and signs suggest Trump is prepared to let the tariff take effect.
In an interview on Fox News broadcast on Sunday, Trump said he had no plans to scale back the tariffs and that letters detailing his administration’s demands would be sent to Japan and other trade partners “starting pretty soon”.
“I could send one to Japan. Dear Mr Japan, here’s the story. You’re going to pay an extra 25 per cent tariff on all your cars,” Trump said on Fox.
“They won’t take our cars and yet we take millions and millions of their cars into the United States,” he complained.