Overview

• Japan’s fifth round of trade talks with the U.S. opens in Washington this week to press for tariff removals.
• The U.S. doubled its steel and aluminum levies to 50%, adding pressure to the stalled negotiations.
• Tokyo is pushing to overturn a 25% duty on vehicles and a 10% tariff on other goods ahead of a planned rise to 24% in July.
• Akazawa will evaluate the new metal tariffs’ effects and report his findings to Tokyo before the G7 leaders’ meeting.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to meet President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit to explore a broader trade agreement.