No Progress in Meeting Between Minister Muto and U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Japan's Request for Tariff Exclusion Receives No Positive Response
Further Consultations Planned Amid Uncertainty
Yoji Muto, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who is visiting the United States, met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on the 10th (local time) and requested that Japan be excluded from additional tariff measures on automobiles, steel, and other products, but did not receive a positive response.
According to NHK and Kyodo News, Minister Muto met with Secretary Ross, USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai, and others in Washington, D.C. on the same day.
During the meeting with Secretary Ross, he requested that Japan be excluded from additional tariffs on automobiles, steel, and other items.
After the meeting, Minister Muto told reporters, "There was no talk of exclusion."
Accordingly, Kyodo News reported that the possibility has increased that Japan will be included in the steel and aluminum tariffs that the U.S. plans to impose on the 12th.
Minister Muto stated that during the meeting, he emphasized Japanese companies' investment and employment in the U.S. and confirmed that Japan and the U.S. will continue to hold close consultations going forward.
On the U.S. side, there were mentions of non-tariff barriers, and discussions were also held regarding the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project, which President Donald Trump is enthusiastic about.
When asked whether there was any discussion related to Nippon Steel's plan to acquire US Steel, Minister Muto said, "Since this is a matter exchanged diplomatically, I will refrain from detailed comments," adding, "I believe concrete plans will be coordinated by the private sector."
Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, acknowledged at a regular press conference on the 11th that regarding the results of the industrial ministers' meeting between the two countries, "I understand that there was no confirmation that Japan would be excluded from tariff measures," effectively admitting the failure to persuade.
He added, "I understand that consultations between the two countries will continue," and "The methods and so forth will be discussed at the working-level."
In this regard, a senior official from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) that "working-level consultations are planned to be held as early as next week" with the U.S. side.
Nikkei explained, "The goal of this meeting was to mitigate the impact of the imminent full-scale implementation of President Trump's tariffs as much as possible," and "The Japanese government will prioritize building a good relationship between Minister Muto and Secretary Ross."
Furthermore, the Japanese government plans to pursue medium- to long-term practical benefits by having the Trump administration recognize the advantages of economic cooperation between Japan and the U.S.
In this context, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya emphasized at a press conference on the same day, "For our country (Japan), we will persistently continue necessary responses, including exclusion from tariff measures."
Foreign Minister Iwaya is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Canada this week to request exclusion from tariffs once again.
He also requested exclusion from tariffs when he met Secretary Pompeo face-to-face last month in Munich, Germany.
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