The Japanese government is expected to launch a persuasion campaign with Minister Yoji Muto leading the charge to the U.S. Department of Commerce ahead of the implementation of the 25% tariff measures by the Trump administration.
According to NHK and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 10th, Minister Muto plans to request during talks with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Gutman in the U.S. on the 10th (local time) that Japanese products be exempted when the tariff on steel and aluminum starts on the 12th of this month. Additionally, he intends to ask to exclude Japan from the automobile tariff policy announced by President Donald Trump.
Minister Muto is expected to emphasize Japan's significant contributions to the U.S. economy in an effort to persuade officials to exempt Japan from the tariffs, NHK reported. During his visit to the U.S., he also plans to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Kevin Hassett, Chairperson of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Earlier, Minister Muto emphasized at a press conference on the 7th that he wants to seek a win-win relationship between the two countries, including how to build human relationships in various forms regarding this visit to the U.S. The Japanese government, NHK reported, particularly wants to prevent tariffs from being imposed on automobiles.
Last year, Japan's exports of automobiles to the U.S. amounted to 6.261 trillion yen (approximately 59.6 trillion won), accounting for 28.3% of total exports. NHK noted that 'if tariffs are increased on automobiles, it could seriously affect not only car manufacturers but also a wide range of industries such as parts and materials,' and added that Minister Muto is expected to persistently convey how Japanese automobile manufacturers contribute to the U.S. economy in an effort to prevent tariff increases.