U.S. CALLS JAPAN TARIFF DEAL ‘MOST IMPORTANT’ – Commerce secretary stresses pact key to trade and tech cooperation.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo.
Newly appointed to the position of foreign minister, Motegi is in charge of tariff talks with the United States.
“I look forward to engaging in discussions with you on a broad range of topics, including cooperation between Japan and the U.S. and strengthening economic security,” he told Lutnick during their bilateral meeting.
Motegi replaces Ryosei Akazawa, who has single-handedly handled the negotiations to lower U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and struck a trade agreement in July.
Akazawa has moved to the trade and industry minister post in the cabinet of newly sworn in hardline conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
