Overview

• Economic revitalization minister Ryo Akazawa will visit the United States from August 28 to 30 for tariff talks in Washington.
• He said he will urge prompt issuance of a presidential order to implement burden‑mitigation measures and the agreed cut in automobile tariffs to 15%.
• Japan and the United States agreed in July to reduce reciprocal and auto tariffs to 15%, and confirmed application of mitigation steps on August 7, yet implementation timing remains unsettled.
• Akazawa is expected to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Latnick, with Japanese media reporting the potential drafting of a joint document on a $550 billion U.S. investment pledge.
• This will be Akazawa’s 10th trip to the U.S., and he said Japan’s stance that a formal agreement document is not strictly necessary remains unchanged even as options are being reviewed.