Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on March 7 to request exemption from new Trump tariffs and advance $550 billion investments, following his departure earlier this week. The talks precede Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's March 19 visit.
Following his departure from Japan on March 6, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa held a two-hour meeting in Washington with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on March 7. Akazawa urged exclusion from President Donald Trump's 10% tariff on all imports—potentially rising to 15%—announced February 24 after the U.S. Supreme Court's invalidation of 'reciprocal tariffs,' based on Section 122 of the Trade Act.
In a post-meeting press conference, Akazawa said, 'We requested Washington not to put Japan in a worse position compared to the result of the bilateral agreement reached last year.' That deal established a 15% baseline tariff on most Japanese imports (down from 27.5% on autos and 25% on others), with anti-stacking provisions absent in the new tariffs, heightening concerns. Reports suggest the U.S. may hold Europe at 10%.
Discussions also covered Japan's $550 billion U.S. investment package, with nuclear power plants eyed for the second round—potentially involving Westinghouse—and building on last month's $36 billion first-round projects in offshore drilling, natural gas, and synthetic diamonds.
The U.S. Commerce Department stated on X that the talks strengthen ties post-investment agreement, omitting tariffs. Akazawa did not reveal the U.S. response. This follows prior negotiations and sets the stage for Prime Minister Takaichi's March 19 Washington visit on energy and minerals.