TOKYO: Japanese trade minister Koichi Hagiuda and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai confirmed Thursday that their countries will deepen cooperation to promote free trade in the Indo-Pacific region.

With China in mind, Hagiuda and Tai also discussed ways to deal with actions that would disrupt free competition in the market, including government subsidies for state-owned companies.

In their first talks, which took place online, Hagiuda demanded that the United States abolish its additional tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Japan.

The add-on tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum were introduced in 2018 out of security concerns. Washington has agreed to ease its restrictions on steel imports from European Union nations.

Tai plans to visit Japan for the first time from Nov. 15 and is arranging talks with Japanese government officials including Hagiuda.

JIJI Press