Japan will open ministerial-level talks with the United States on April 16 over tariffs, joining a growing list of countries moving to negotiate with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on 57 nations.
South Korea is expected to begin its own talks next week, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported on April 14, citing sources, that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has identified five key allies — the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, India, and Japan — as priority negotiation partners.
While being designated a priority country offers no guarantee of favorable terms, Bessent told Bloomberg on April 14 that there would be a “first-mover advantage,” adding, “usually the first person who makes a deal makes the best deal.” He called on partners to bring their “best offers,” with Trump himself expected to participate in talks with the most important U.S. trade partners.
Japan, which faces overlapping issues with South Korea in the negotiations, reportedly plans to first listen closely to U.S. demands before revealing its own positions. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s economic revitalization minister and chief negotiator, said before departing for Washington that while an early agreement would be ideal, “the most effective negotiating cards change moment to moment,” emphasizing the need for “fast and bold” responses.
South Korea, meanwhile, has formed a negotiating team under the direction of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun is expected to visit Washington soon. The U.S. is reportedly pushing for a broad, “one-stop shopping” negotiation covering not only trade deficits — an issue Trump raised in a recent phone call with Han — but also currency policy, energy cooperation, and security matters.
Bessent confirmed in his Bloomberg interview that negotiations with Vietnam took place last week, with talks set for Japan on April 16 and for South Korea the following week.
According to Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, Bessent and Akazawa will meet on April 17 following the opening of the Japan-U.S. tariff talks. Akazawa, a seven-term lawmaker and close ally of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, told Japanese media that identifying Washington’s top priorities would be his immediate focus, adding that winning the trust of Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would be crucial.
Japanese media reported that Tokyo plans to hold back specific offers in the initial meeting, aiming first to clarify Washington’s demands before finalizing its negotiating stance. However, the U.S. has reportedly urged Japan to table proposals early.
The two sides are expected to clash over U.S. calls for Japan to lower trade barriers on American agricultural products and automobiles. Other agenda items include energy cooperation, the yen-dollar exchange rate, and Japan’s financial contributions to the costs of hosting U.S. military forces — with Washington seeking to bundle these issues into a comprehensive “package deal.”
Japanese officials remain wary of such a package approach, fearing that once security enters the discussion, it would be difficult to secure favorable terms on trade or currency matters. Nikkei reported that Bessent — considered a Japan expert in policy circles — is well aware of Tokyo’s sensitivities, and that security talks could pressure Japan into further concessions.
Analysts suggest Washington’s decision to prioritize Japan may be driven by the leverage it can gain by tying security issues into the first major agreement.
Japan hopes to reduce the 24% reciprocal tariff rate Trump announced on April 2 while also securing exemptions or reductions on existing U.S. tariffs of 25% on imported automobiles and steel. Akazawa acknowledged U.S. interest in non-tariff barriers, currency issues, and Alaska LNG projects but said the specifics remained unclear. While Tokyo could quickly agree to expanded LNG imports, Trump’s earlier mention of “joint development” would pose a more difficult challenge.
Some Japanese officials and analysts have also raised concerns that Washington might pressure Tokyo — the largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt — to shift more of its holdings into ultra-long-term bonds in a bid to stabilize the U.S. bond market, which has come under strain amid the trade tensions. Such a request would be difficult for Japan to accept, given memories of the 1985 Plaza Accord and the asset bubble collapse that followed in the 1990s.
Prime Minister Ishiba has warned against rushing the negotiations, telling parliament, “If we hurry, we’ll ruin things. I have no intention of compromising just to conclude talks quickly.” He has reportedly instructed all ministries to back the negotiation effort, recognizing that every agency has a stake in the outcome.
At present, Japan has no plans to impose retaliatory tariffs, with Ishiba recently describing the U.S. duties as a “national crisis” but adding that counter-tariffs “would not be in Japan’s national interest.”
