Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa (right) shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (center) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C., last year. Akazawa held fresh tariff negotiations and received confirmation from the United States that no tariffs beyond the previously agreed level would be imposed on Japan, even as the Trump administration signaled new levies based on a Section 301 trade probe. [Yonhap]
Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa (right) shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (center) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C., last year. Akazawa held fresh tariff negotiations and received confirmation from the United States that no tariffs beyond the previously agreed level would be imposed on Japan, even as the Trump administration signaled new levies based on a Section 301 trade probe. [Yonhap]

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa said the United States confirmed it would not impose tariffs on Japan beyond the level already agreed, even as the Donald Trump administration threatened new levies on 60 countries over forced labor concerns.

Akazawa posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday that he had held an online meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and "reaffirmed that the Japan-US agreement remains solid and valid."

"We shared the understanding that last year's agreement stands unchanged and that both countries remain committed to its implementation," he said. He added that he had received confirmation from the US side that no additional tariffs beyond last year's agreement would be imposed on Japan.

The Trump administration announced June 2, local time, that it would impose additional tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries — including South Korea and Japan — that have failed to ban goods produced with forced labor. The US Trade Representative has been conducting a probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act since the Supreme Court ruled in February that reciprocal tariffs were unlawful. That investigation identified roughly 60 countries that have not enacted or enforced import bans on forced-labor goods. The administration warned the tariff rate would be either 10 or 12.5 percent depending on the terms of each country's trade agreement with the United States.

Japan and South Korea were both found to have inadequate measures — in adoption or enforcement, or both — to ban imports of goods made with forced labor. The United States said it would apply a 12.5 percent tariff to the group of 54 economies in that category.

Japan reached a tariff agreement with the United States last year capping the rate at 15 percent. The deal also included a commitment by Japan to invest $550 billion in the United States, part of which is already being implemented.


kate01@heraldcorp.com