As the clock ticks down to the implementation of new tariffs, Japan has tapped Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa to lead crucial negotiations with the United States, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
The move comes as Japan scrambles to secure a reprieve from the Trump administration’s trade policies. Akazawa, widely recognized as the right-hand man for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, will be tasked with engaging US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The appointment follows a recent call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba on Monday, raising hopes that Japan may receive preferential treatment compared to other US trading partners.
However, the pressure remains high. The so-called “24% reciprocal tariffs,” designed to rebalance trade and eliminate the US deficit with Tokyo, are scheduled to take effect on Wednesday. In addition to these looming tariffs, the US has already imposed a 25% levy on Japanese auto imports, as well as the same tariff rate on steel and aluminum.
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