Much Should Be Done for Tariff Accord with U.S.: Akazawa

Tokyo, June 8 (Jiji Press)--Japan's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said Sunday that much needs to be done before Tokyo reaches an accord with the United States.
 

"Things are not so simple, and there are a lot of issues that need to be discussed in detail among working- and minister-level officials" of the two countries, he told reporters after briefing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier in the day on the results of his latest U.S. visit.
 

Akazawa stressed that he will work harder to make progress so that the two sides can clinch an accord on tariff issues on the sidelines of the three-day Group of Seven summit in Canada from June 15.
 

The briefing session, held at the prime minister's official residence, was also attended by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and others.
 

Akazawa, minister for economic revitalization, told reporters that Ishiba instructed him on how to proceed with tariff negotiations with the United States going forward while stopping short of touching on details.
 

He returned home Sunday from Washington, where he held the fifth round of negotiations with the U.S. side on a possible review of the high tariff policy of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
 

When asked about the possibility of the two countries breaking the deadlock through direct talks between Ishiba and Trump, Akazawa pointed out that the negotiations are complicated and said a conclusion will unlikely be reached immediately even if Ishiba talks with Trump.
 

Regarding the view within the Japanese government that it is difficult to persuade the Trump administration to withdraw all of its tariff measures, Akazawa said: "The series of U.S. measures are regrettable. There is no change at all in our stance of urging the U.S. side to review its tariff measures."
 

On the timing of the next round of Japan-U.S. tariff talks, Akazawa told reporters at Haneda airport earlier on Sunday, "I have nothing in particular to say at the moment."

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