Japan Delays Trade Trip to U.S. Amidst Tariff Talks with Trump

Tokyo, Aug 28 (AP) Japan's leading trade negotiator has unexpectedly canceled a scheduled trip to Washington that was intended to culminate in a joint statement regarding a tariffs agreement with the Trump administration.

A top government spokesman has urged the U.S. side to expedite the implementation of the agreement.

Trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa was slated to depart from Tokyo to Washington on Thursday for a 10th round of discussions.

This follows an agreement that was initially announced on July 22.

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi informed reporters that further consultations were necessary due to unresolved details, prompting the postponement of the trip.

In July, both nations had consented to a reduction in tariffs, lowering them from 25 percent to 15 percent on the majority of Japanese imports, effective August 1.

This tariff was originally proclaimed by President Donald Trump as part of "reciprocal tariffs" against the key U.S. ally.

Shortly thereafter, Japanese officials found out that the preliminary deal would actually append a 15 percent tariff to existing tariffs, to which they lodged protests.

Washington officials acknowledged the error and committed to adhere to the agreed-upon 15 percent tariff, including reimbursing any excessive duties that had been collected.

However, this adjustment has yet to take place.

“We will firmly urge the United States to modify its presidential order to rectify the reciprocal tariffs and to issue the order to reduce tariffs on automobiles and auto parts,” Hayashi stated.

In a recent Fox News interview, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demonstrated readiness from Washington to finalize the deal, with Japan also pledging to allocate up to USD 550 billion in the American economy over the coming years.

The scheduling of Akazawa's trip to Washington remains uncertain, Hayashi remarked during a daily briefing, offering an additional gentle nudge to the Trump administration.

“Japan and the United States have affirmed the importance of sincere and prompt enforcement of the agreement between the two nations,” he noted, expressing that the deal was crucial for both countries' economic security.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)