US Treasury’s Bessent believes good tariff deal possible, Japan PM Ishiba says
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Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba (right) shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting in Tokyo, on July 18.
PHOTO: EPA
TOKYO – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that their countries can reach a “good agreement” on tariffs, Mr Ishiba said on July 18 after meeting Mr Bessent at his office in Tokyo.
Mr Ishiba added that while no specific terms were discussed, such as the 25 per cent tariff US President Donald Trump has said he will impose on Japan from August, he asked Mr Bessent to continue “active talks” with his top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa.
Mr Akazawa, who also joined the meeting, told reporters that both countries agreed to carry on a “constructive dialogue”. Mr Bessent left Mr Ishiba’s office without speaking to reporters.
The comments from top Japanese officials came after Mr Bessent made a courtesy visit to Mr Ishiba in Tokyo, before attending a US national day event on July 19 at World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Japan’s shaky minority government is poised for another setback in an upper house vote on July 20, an outcome that could jolt investor confidence in the world’s fourth largest economy and complicate tariff talks with the US.
Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun daily reported on the evening of July 18 that Mr Akazawa has started making arrangements to visit the US next week for further tariff talks with Mr Bessent and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. REUTERS
