TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s government said its top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, held a 45-minute phone call with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on U.S. tariffs on Thursday.
“The two sides re-confirmed each other’s position on U.S. tariff measures and engaged in deep conversation,” the government said in a statement on Thursday, adding that Tokyo will continue dialogue with Washington on the issue.
The phone talks came after President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. would likely keep 25% tariffs on imports from Japan, which take effect from August 1, unless the countries agree on a trade deal.
According to domestic media, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is arranging to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo on Friday, where the two sides may discuss trade.
(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
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