Japan’s best trade negotiator abruptly canceled a trip to Washington aimed at issuing a joint statement about a rates with the Trump government, while a spokesperson for the government’s top encouraged the American side to accelerate the implementation of the agreement.
Trade Envoy Ryosei Akazawa was planned to leave Tokyo on Thursday before Washington for a 10th round of conversations, following the announced agreement on July 22.
But main cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, reporters told some details required further consultation, so the journey was postponed.
In July the two parties corresponded to a tax of 15% on the import of most Japanese goods, with effect from 1 August, compared to a previously 25% rate announced by President Donald Trump as so -called “mutual rates” on the large American ally. Japanese officials discovered days later that the provisional deal would add a rate of 15% to other rates and objects. Civil servants in Washington have recognized the error and agreed to adhere to the agreement on a rate of 15% and to repay any paid import duties.
That has not happened so far.
“We will strongly ask the United States to change its presidential order to correct the mutual rates and to issue the presidential order to lower the rates for car and car parts,” said Hayashi.
In an interview with Fox News earlier this week, American trade secretary Howard Lutnick said that Washington was ready to complete the deal, in which Japan also promised to invest up to $ 550 billion in the United States in the coming years.
Plans for Akazawa to visit Washington are undecided, Hayashi said during a daily briefing, with another push to the Trump administration.
“Japan and the United States have confirmed the importance of genuine and rapid implementation of the agreement between the two countries,” he said, adding that a deal was essential for the economic security of both countries.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press
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