WASHINGTON: The US government announced Friday that it will launch talks with Japan that could lead to a review of its additional tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Japan.

Japanese and US ministers are set to meet in Tokyo on Monday to start full-fledged talks on the matter.

They are also expected to reaffirm the two countries’ cooperation to counter China, which is regarded by the administration of US President Joe Biden as the most serious competitor to the United States.

In 2018, the administration of then US President Donald Trump introduced the extra tariffs under Section 232 of the country’s 1962 Trade Expansion Act, which allows import restrictions on grounds of security.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai, both scheduled to visit Japan on Monday for the first time since assuming office, released a joint statement Friday.

“The United States and Japan will seek to resolve bilateral concerns in this area, including the application of Section 232 measures, trade flows and the sufficiency of actions that address steel and aluminum excess capacity,” the statement read.

The Biden administration is accelerating efforts to repair relations with US allies, which soured under the Trump administration, as it hopes to form a coalition against China.

Late last month, the United States and the European Union reached an agreement to end their trade dispute. The Biden administration is considering easing trade frictions with Japan as well possibly by removing part of the extra tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the Asian country.

“We do want to work with our allies in Japan to resolve” the tariff issue, Raimondo said on Nov. 4.

The United States hopes to cooperate with Japan also in efforts to prevent China from engaging in roundabout trade via third countries, in a bid to address distortions in the global market caused by China’s excess production of steel and aluminum.

JIJI Press