The United States has refused to provide Japan with reciprocal tariff exemptions

On May 5th, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the United States rejected Japan's request for a full exemption from the 10% reciprocal tariff as well as the country-specific tariff in recent negotiations. U.S. officials, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Vicente, said during talks with Japan's chief negotiator, Ryosho Akasawa, in Washington last week that the Trump administration intends to cut only the 14% country-specific tariff, which was suspended until early July, the sources said. The United States stressed in the second round of talks that it would only consider extending the 90-day suspension or reducing the 14% tariff depending on the progress of the negotiations. Tokyo has been seeking the full elimination of the reciprocal tariff, the 25% auto tariff and the 25% steel and aluminum tariff by the United States. Washington has said it will not negotiate a global 10% base tariff or tariffs on automobiles and steel products.