Japan: Prime Minister’s Visit to the US Expected for Trade Agreement

Reports suggest that Japan’s Prime Minister is planning a visit to the United States with the aim of securing a trade agreement, according to a publication by the Yomiuri newspaper. The visit to President Donald Trump is expected to take place before the G7 summit in mid-June. Japanese officials see signs of progress in efforts to ease Trump’s tariffs following repeated visits by high-level negotiator Riosiey Akazawa, who stated that the American side shows keen interest in Japan’s proposals. Economy Minister Akazawa will return to Washington for further talks later this week. Following these discussions, a decision on the Prime Minister Isiba’s visit to the US will be made, as reported by the same newspaper. Neither the White House nor the Japanese Prime Minister’s office immediately responded to requests for comment outside business hours. Japan, a key ally of the US, faces potential tariffs of 24% starting next month unless it negotiates a bilateral trade deal. Additionally, it seeks ways for Washington to exempt it from a 25% tariff on Japanese vehicles, its largest industrial sector. Some Japanese officials hope an agreement could be announced on President Trump’s birthday, June 14, according to Yomiuri.