関税かんぜいめぐり今週こんしゅう 2回かい目めの日にち米べい交渉こうしょう 日本にっぽんの投資とうし説明せつめい 建設けんせつ的てき協議きょうぎへ

Regarding U.S. tariff measures, the second round of ministerial talks between Japan and the United States is scheduled to take place this week.

While President Trump is seeking to eliminate the trade deficit, Minister Akazawa in charge of economic revitalization explained that promoting investment from Japan would benefit the U.S. economy, and expressed his intention to proceed with discussions constructively.

Regarding the U.S. tariff measures, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa is scheduled to leave Japan on the 30th and, as early as the 1st of next month Japan time, attend the second round of ministerial talks in Washington with Treasury Secretary Bessent and others.

In the earlier Japan-U.S. negotiations, President Trump claimed that American cars and agricultural products were not selling in Japan and expressed his intention to reduce the trade deficit with Japan to zero.

For this reason, the Japanese government analyzes that, in the negotiations, the American side is prioritizing the elimination of its trade deficit and the improvement of its own economy above all else.

In this negotiation, Minister Akazawa explained that promoting investment from Japan would create jobs and bring benefits to the American economy, and expressed his intention to proceed with discussions constructively.

And, wanting to confirm the specific areas to be discussed, Japan is considering presenting its stance while assessing the other side’s approach, taking into account that, in the first meeting, the U.S. side pressed for a review of automobile safety standards and listed items of agricultural interest such as rice, meat, and potatoes.

The Trump administration to impose an additional 25% tariff on auto parts as well—Concerns over impact on Japanese economy The Trump administration in the United States imposed an additional 25% tariff on imported automobiles on the 3rd of this month, and has announced that it will apply the same measure to major auto parts by the 3rd of next month.

This time, 130 items including engines, transmissions, electronic components, and others will be subject to additional tariffs, covering a wide range.

The export value of automobile parts from Japan to the United States last year was 1.231 trillion yen, accounting for 5% of the total.

It accounts for 8%, making it the second largest category after automobiles, and there are concerns about its impact on the Japanese economy.

In this context, Takashi Kiuchi, Executive Economist at Nomura Research Institute, stated that if a 25% tariff were imposed on automobiles and their related parts respectively, Japans GDP Gross Domestic Product would—

We estimate that it will lower it by a little over 2%.

Additionally, at a discussion with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto on the 8th of this month, Takashi Kayamoto, Chairman of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, stated, There are also voices saying that tariff measures are a matter of life and death for medium-sized and small businesses.

I would like to ask for persistent negotiations with the United States, he said.