"6th US-Japan Tariff Talks to Be Held in the United States"… Bilateral Summit at G7

Japanese Minister in Charge: "No Clear Path Forward for Agreement"

The United States and Japan plan to hold their sixth round of tariff negotiations on the 13th (local time) in Washington, D.C., USA.

Kyodo News reported this on the 10th, stating that Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Minister for Economic Revitalization, who has been leading the Japanese ministerial-level negotiations, will visit the United States again for this round.

After the 6th round of US-Japan tariff talks, he is scheduled to join Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his delegation in Canada, where the Group of Seven (G7) summit will be held from the 15th to the 17th, and return to Japan on the 18th. The Japanese government is considering reaching an agreement on tariffs at a US-Japan summit meeting that will be held alongside the G7 summit, according to Kyodo News. US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have already agreed in a recent phone call to hold a bilateral summit during the G7 meeting.

During the negotiation process, the Japanese government has presented as bargaining chips the expansion of US agricultural imports, improvements to the automotive import system, and cooperation in shipbuilding and economic security sectors. However, the US has only agreed to discuss country-specific tariffs (Japan: 14%) in addition to the general 10% mutual tariff, and has expressed reluctance to adjust tariffs on specific items such as automobiles, steel, and aluminum.

In response to the US position, Japan also stepped back from its previously emphasized demand for a review of the 25% automobile tariff. They withdrew their demand for complete abolition and instead proposed a reduction in the tariff rate. Nonetheless, no agreement has yet been reached.

According to NHK, Minister Akazawa remarked at a press conference after a cabinet meeting that day, "It feels like we are in a fog," adding, "The US side has made it clear that President Trump will make the final decision, and the path to a final agreement is not yet visible."

Earlier, after the fifth round of US-Japan tariff talks held in Washington, D.C., for two days ending on the 6th (local time), Minister Akazawa said, "I believe discussions have progressed further toward realizing an agreement," but added, "We have not yet found common ground."

Regarding this, NHK also reported that within the Japanese government, there are plans to consider another phone call between Prime Minister Ishiba and President Trump to make further progress before the G7 summit. The two leaders have previously held phone talks before the third and fourth tariff negotiations as well.

Su-bin Park, Hankyung.com reporter waterbean@hankyung.com