Japan secures US assurance on tariffs despite Trump's shifting trade policies

Japan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to a bilateral trade agreement reached last year, with Tokyo securing assurances that Washington will not impose higher tariff rates on Japanese goods despite shifting US trade policies under President Donald Trump.

Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa confirmed the agreement remains intact following separate meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington. The minister told reporters that the US would not apply tariff rates on Japanese goods exceeding those bilaterally agreed to in July last year.

Supply chain cooperation on critical minerals

Both sides agreed to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, a strategic priority for the two allies. During his discussion with Greer, Akazawa said they shared concerns that China's "arbitrary export controls" risked causing "significant damage to the supply chains of both Japan and the United States".

The Japanese government has continued to honour the trade deal's terms even after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping country-specific tariffs in February. The agreement involves cooperation on investing in strategic sectors, with a total value of US$550 billion.

Akazawa's confirmation that "last year's agreement remains unchanged" provides clarity amid uncertainty over Trump's evolving tariff policies, which have shifted significantly over time. The reaffirmation signals continuity in US-Japan economic ties despite broader turbulence in American trade policy.

Source: South China Morning Post