Japan hopes for trade deal with US in June as negotiations speed up
US and Japanese leaders may meet at the G7 summit (Photo: Getty Images)
Japan aims to reach a trade agreement with the United States in June. According to Tokyo’s chief negotiator, negotiations are expected to gain momentum in mid-May, reports Bloomberg.
Japanese representative Ryosei Akazawa stated that his second meeting with the American side - including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick - was candid and transparent. However, many discussion topics still require further clarification.
“We were able to have concrete discussions on topics such as expanding our bilateral trade, non-tariff measures, and cooperation on economic security. We agreed to arrange a date for the next high-level meeting, aiming to accelerate the talks from mid-May,” the Tokyo negotiator told reporters.
Akazawa also reaffirmed Japan's stance, calling US President Donald Trump's tariff policy deeply regrettable and reiterated Tokyo's call for a review of the tariff measures.
He expressed hope that the accelerated negotiations would enable Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to reach an agreement in June.
“It is not simply a matter of speed, as there are national interests that must be protected on both sides, which will take some time. There are still many issues that need to be addressed and resolved before a final agreement can be reached,” Akazawa stated.
According to Bloomberg, the two leaders may meet for talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, scheduled for mid-June.
