Japan is accelerating preparations for future countermeasures after conducting its first tariff negotiations with the United States.
On the 19th (local time), NHK and other local media reported, citing multiple government officials, that "U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire to reduce the trade deficit with Japan to zero (0) during a meeting with Minister of Economic Recovery Ryosei Akazawa."
Earlier, Minister Akazawa returned on the 18th and reported the negotiation details to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Minister Akazawa met with President Donald Trump for about 50 minutes at the White House on the 16th and had a 75-minute meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Broughton, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.
President Trump noted, "The U.S. protects Japan, but Japan bears no burden."
According to Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, at the subsequent ministerial meeting, the U.S. side raised issues such as "there is no transparency in rice imports or distribution structures" and "U.S. automobile safety standards are not treated equally to those in Japan", and demanded an increase in imports of agricultural products such as meat, seafood, and potatoes. This was noted in the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) trade barriers report.
The Japanese side mentioned that "it is difficult to change all non-tariff barriers" and requested a prioritization.
Prime Minister Ishiba instructed Minister Akazawa to "accelerate internal government review and coordination" after receiving the report. Japan is expected to bring additional negotiation cards such as expanding rice and soybean imports and relaxing certification systems for imported cars.
The two countries agreed to hold a second round of negotiations later this month. Minister Akazawa, the Japanese ministerial negotiation representative, told reporters asking about the prospects for future negotiations, "Everything must be settled before we can reach a package agreement," adding that "we will thoroughly investigate and analyze before the next negotiations."
Although not mentioned in the first negotiation, the exchange rate issue could come up in future discussions as President Trump has expressed dissatisfaction several times.
The Japanese government is also alert to the issue of defense cost sharing. Asahi Shimbun reported, "Japan is considering separating the tariff negotiations from the issue of costs for the U.S. military stationed in Japan," adding that "President Trump may demand an increase in defense spending, as he did during his first term, putting the Japanese government in a difficult situation."
Defense Minister Gen Nakanati also stated at a press conference the previous day that "(security) is a separate issue from tariffs."