Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol (from left), U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi are taking a commemorative photo at the Korea-U.S.-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at Commerzbank near the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, on the 15th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
On the 15th (local time), Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi reportedly requested U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio to exclude Japan from the application of mutual tariffs and other tariff imposition measures.
According to NHK, while visiting Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Foreign Minister Iwaya had a brief exchange of views with Secretary Rubio and conveyed this request regarding the tariff measures being considered by the Donald Trump administration.
He asked for Japan to be excluded from the 25% steel and aluminum tariffs and the planned customized mutual tariff imposition. He also raised concerns about the automobile tariff plan.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "While confirming close communication toward strengthening Japan-U.S. economic relations, Foreign Minister Iwaya expressed his views on the tariff measures."
Additionally, Foreign Minister Iwaya conveyed his desire to hold an early Japan-U.S. foreign and defense ministers (2+2) meeting following the recent summit between President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government is closely monitoring the automobile tariff plan mentioned by President Trump.
On the 14th, during a signing ceremony for an executive order in the White House Oval Office, when reporters asked about the schedule for introducing automobile tariffs, President Trump said, "Probably around April 2." However, it remains unclear whether the date refers to the tariff enforcement date or the announcement date of the tariff plan, as well as the method of imposition.
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