Post by : Shakul

Japan has urged the United States not to impose higher tariffs on Japanese imports as both countries prepare for a high-level meeting between their leaders later this month. Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa made the request during a two-hour meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington.

Akazawa said Tokyo wants the United States to maintain the tariff conditions agreed in a bilateral trade deal reached last year. The concern comes after Washington introduced a temporary 10 percent global tariff following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down several key tariffs introduced earlier by President Donald Trump. U.S. officials have indicated the temporary levy could be increased to 15 percent while a new long-term tariff framework is developed.

Japan fears that any increase beyond the previously agreed rate could disadvantage Japanese exporters, especially in sectors such as automobiles, machinery and electronics. Under last year’s agreement, Japanese imports were subject to a baseline tariff of around 15 percent, while the United States agreed to reduce duties on some products and avoid stacking additional tariffs on items already taxed at higher levels.

The issue comes just weeks before Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit the White House on March 19 for talks with President Trump. Japanese officials say both sides are working to ensure the meeting highlights the strong economic partnership between the two countries and strengthens cooperation in areas such as energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.

Japan has also pledged to invest about $550 billion in strategic industries in the United States by the end of Trump’s second term in 2029 as part of the broader economic agreement. The investment package includes projects aimed at supporting energy infrastructure, advanced technology development and AI data centers.

Last month, the two governments announced the first group of projects under the investment plan, worth roughly $36 billion. Among them is a major gas-fired power facility in Ohio designed to supply electricity to energy-intensive AI data centers. Officials are also considering additional initiatives such as small modular nuclear reactors to support future technology infrastructure.

While Akazawa did not reveal Washington’s response to Japan’s request regarding tariffs, he said discussions between the two countries would continue to ensure the existing trade framework remains intact and beneficial for both economies.

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