U.S. to cut Japan tariffs on autos under trade deal

The U.S. will lower tariffs on Japanese cars and auto parts by 16 September under a trade deal formalised by President Donald Trump, Japan’s chief negotiator said Tuesday.

Japan’s tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa announced that revised U.S. tariff rates on Japanese goods, including autos, will take effect within a week of their 9 September publication in the Federal Register.

The move follows Trump’s executive order on the U.S.-Japan trade agreement signed in July, which cut tariffs to 15% in exchange for a $550 billion package of Japanese investments and loans for U.S. projects.

Akazawa said the order brought clarity on implementation but stressed that negotiations remain unfinished.

Key issues, including most-favoured-nation status for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, were left out of the executive order.

While a joint statement last week promised Japan the lowest tariff rates on chips and pharmaceuticals under any U.S. trade deal, Tokyo continues to push for the pledge to be formalised.

On the $550 billion investment package, Akazawa noted that it will be up to Washington to decide which projects, such as Nippon Steel’s planned U.S. Steel acquisition or SoftBank Group initiatives will benefit.

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