• The Trump administration imposed 10 percent tariffs on most nations on April 2, but larger trade partners such as Japan face a 24 percent tariff rate starting in July unless a resolution is reached this week in Washington.

Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan reiterated its stance on U.S. tariffs, stating that it wants all trade measures imposed by former President Donald Trump to be completely removed, according to The Japan Times.

“The slew of U.S. tariffs — including reciprocal tariffs, as well as those on automobiles, car parts, steel and aluminum — are regrettable. There’s no change to our stance of seeking a review, which is to say an elimination of them,” AKAZAWA Ryosei, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, told a regular press conference Tuesday.

These remarks come ahead of high-level negotiations in Washington this week between Akazawa and U.S. officials, including Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

While the Trump administration imposed 10 percent tariffs on most nations on April 2, larger trade partners such as Japan face a 24 percent tariff rate starting in July unless a resolution is reached this week in Washington.

Japan is the first major economy to begin talks with the United States, but the two previous rounds of negotiations were inconclusive.

As a result, the Japanese public has little faith in the upcoming talks making concrete progress, with 72 percent of 1,072 respondents reporting they have no expectations.

“We must not let the desire to reach an agreement quickly come at the expense of Japan’s national interests,” Akazawa said ahead of the talks.