Japan seeks trade deal with US as G7 looms

Positive sign: Akazawa speaking to the media at the Japanese embassy in Washington last Friday. The minister says Japan is trying to avoid the auto tariffs going even higher via its bilateral talks with the United States. — Bloomberg

TOKYO: Japan and the United States held another round of trade talks in Washington as officials try to reach an agreement ahead of a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada and a meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for 70 minutes and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for 45 minutes last Friday.