Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is weighing a trip to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in a bid to secure a bilateral trade agreement before the G7 summit in Canada in June, according to a report by the Yomiuri newspaper.
The move comes as Japan intensifies efforts to shield its economy, particularly its vital automotive industry, from steep U.S. tariffs threatened by the Trump administration.
The Yomiuri, citing unnamed Japanese government sources, reported that Ishiba’s potential visit hinges on the outcome of ongoing negotiations led by Japan’s Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa.
Akazawa, who returned to Tokyo on Sunday after his fourth round of talks in Washington, told reporters that discussions are “progressing toward an agreement” but cautioned that the format of negotiations before the G7 summit remains undecided. He is set to return to the U.S. later this week for further talks, after which Ishiba will decide on a Washington trip, the newspaper said.
Japan, a key U.S. ally, faces significant economic pressure from Trump’s proposed “reciprocal tariff” of 24% on Japanese imports starting next month, unless a bilateral deal is reached.
Additionally, a 25% tariff on automobiles looms, threatening Japan’s largest industry. On Friday, Trump escalated concerns by announcing plans to double tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum to 50%, a move Akazawa declined to comment on, noting that U.S. Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not raise the issue during recent talks.
Despite the challenges, Japanese officials are cautiously optimistic. Akazawa’s repeated visits have yielded signs of progress, with the U.S. expressing strong interest in Japan’s proposals. These include increased purchases of U.S. military equipment and energy, as well as cooperation on shipbuilding and repairing U.S. warships in Japan.
Ishiba has emphasized that negotiations are advancing on multiple fronts, including trade expansion, non-tariff measures, and economic security. However, Akazawa stressed on Friday that any agreement must include U.S. concessions on tariffs, particularly for Japan’s auto sector, which employs millions and accounts for a significant portion of the country’s exports.
As the G7 summit approaches, Japan’s push for a deal underscores the high stakes for its economy and its strategic alliance with the U.S. With Akazawa’s next round of talks looming, the coming days will be critical in determining whether Tokyo can secure exemptions and avoid a costly trade war with its largest trading partner.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Yomiuri Newspaper: The Yomiuri Shimbun is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five major newspapers in Japan.
Japan is urgently negotiating a bilateral trade deal with the U.S. to avoid steep tariffs, particularly a 24% “reciprocal tariff” and a 25% tariff on its critical automotive industry, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba considering a pre-G7 summit meeting with President Trump to secure an agreement.
