Japan plays hard with the US in the issue of customs duties. Tokyo asks for an “appropriate” approach
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru ishiba photo: Kentaro Tominaga / AP / Profimedia
The Japanese tax negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, gave assurances on Saturday that Japan does not intend to reach any agreement with US President Donald Trump, if his administration does not review all the new customs duties he imposed, reports the EFE agency, taken over by Agerpres.
“We have pressed the United States to reconsider the series of taxes and we cannot reach an agreement if they are not properly addressed,” said Akazawa, minister in charge of economic revitalization and new capitalism, on return to the Asian country after a second round of taxes, from Washington, according to the Local Kyodo news agency.
Government sources have reported that the United States has been reluctant to grant derogations or any special treatment in Japan, which means that the 25% increase for car imports, a subject especially worrying for the Asian country, would not be negotiable.
The auto industry is one of the most important for Japan, especially in terms of US trade, where it represents about 30% of Japanese exports in the North American country. Before the increase, the taxes for these products were 2.5%. At the same time, the tax of 25% for American car imports entered on Saturday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba regretted the entry into force of new taxes and gave assurances that Japan will continue to ask the US to reconsider the new tariff measures. He agreed with Akazawa and said that his country negotiates “with all taxes”, including those for vehicles, steel and aluminum, as well as the 10% general tax recently established by Washington.
Since returning to the White House, in January 2025, Donald Trump has imposed 25 % tax increases for car imports and a similar fee for steel and aluminum produced outside the American territory.
His administration also announced what he called “mutual taxes”, a series of taxes imposed on the commercial partners with which he has and to other countries that he accuses of imposing incorrect nostrifier barriers, and which, in the case of Japan, amounts to 10%.
These taxes are partially suspended temporarily- they are generally maintained at 10%- while bilateral commercial negotiations are carried out. It is expected that the third round of negotiations between the two countries will take place during May.
