Trump Joins U.S.-Japan Tariff Talks, Expanding Focus Beyond Trade

WASHINGTON/TOKYO, April 16 — In a surprise move, former President Donald Trump announced he will personally attend a high-stakes meeting with Japanese trade officials in Washington on Wednesday, intensifying already tense discussions sparked by his sweeping new tariffs on global imports.

Originally expected to be a lower-profile negotiation between Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the talks have now expanded — both in scope and spotlight — with Trump stepping in to push his broader agenda.

“Japan is coming in today to negotiate tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS,’” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”

While Japan had hoped to keep the discussions limited to trade and investment, Trump has added other hot-button issues to the table — notably, Japan’s financial contributions to hosting U.S. military forces. Japan is home to the largest U.S. troop deployment overseas.

Treasury Secretary Bessent is also expected to raise the sensitive issue of currency policy, eyeing Tokyo’s approach to the yen — an issue Japan insists is not subject to manipulation for trade advantage.

Japan is one of several countries hit by Trump’s recent tariff rollout, including a 24% levy on exports to the U.S. While that rate is currently paused for 90 days, a baseline 10% tariff and a 25% duty on cars — a crucial sector for Japan — remain in effect.

Despite being one of the first to enter face-to-face negotiations, Japan is not eager to make major concessions. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has made it clear his government isn’t rushing into a deal — and for now, isn’t considering retaliation.

“The U.S. is offering to not hit Japan with sticks, and Japan is stuck in a position of offering a whole lot of carrots,” said Kurt Tong, managing partner at The Asia Group and a former State Department official.
“From their perspective, it feels like economic coercion.”

Japan is just one piece of Washington’s growing web of trade talks. Last week, Bessent met with Vietnam’s deputy prime minister and is scheduled to host South Korea’s finance minister next. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is also heading to the White House this week to talk tariffs affecting the European Union.

While the full scope of the U.S.-Japan meeting remains unclear, Bessent has floated the possibility of addressing not only tariffs and exchange rates but also Japanese investment in U.S. infrastructure — including a potential multi-billion-dollar gas project in Alaska.

Ahead of his trip, Akazawa expressed hope that Japan’s efforts to boost U.S. investment would be enough to avoid further tariffs.

“We want to show that Japan and the United States can both benefit — a win-win — without resorting to economic pressure,” Akazawa said.