KUALA LUMPUR (Kyodo) — Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday agreed to support bilateral tariff negotiations, following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on Aug. 1.
The two top diplomats, who met on the sidelines of ASEAN-related regional meetings in Kuala Lumpur, confirmed that they will back ministerial talks aimed at reaching a “mutually beneficial” deal, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Japan and the United States have had in-person ministerial negotiations over Trump’s latest tariff regime seven times.
Japan’s chief tariff negotiator is economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, while the U.S. side is led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Japan, US top diplomats agree to support bilateral tariff talks
