Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, is visiting Washington (April 16–18, 2025) to seek reductions on U.S. tariffs that are constraining Japan’s export-heavy economy. Japan currently faces a 10% universal tariff and a 25% tariff on automobiles, steel, and aluminum—sectors central to its industrial base. Though a 24% across-the-board tariff has been paused for 90 days, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has declared the trade environment a “national crisis.” Rather than retaliate, Japan is leaning on diplomacy, coordination with allies like the UK and Singapore, and strategic investments in the U.S.—notably a multi-billion-dollar natural gas project in Alaska.

A key backdrop to the tensions is Japan’s longstanding trade surplus with the U.S., which totaled approximately $67 billion in 2024. This surplus, largely driven by auto and machinery exports, is a political flashpoint in Washington, where protectionist sentiment remains strong.

Akazawa’s mission is to secure a phased easing of tariffs without triggering broader trade reprisals or sacrificing key sectors. The talks may also touch on currency transparency and U.S. market access. The stakes are high—not just economically but symbolically—for how allies resolve disputes in an era of shifting global trade norms.