Japan PM Ishiba reiterates call to eliminate all tariffs with US

Kevin Buckland

Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:36 PM 1 min read

By Kevin Buckland

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated connected Sunday that helium volition purpose for the elimination of each tariffs successful commercialized negotiations with the United States.

Speaking connected a Fuji Television greeting program, Ishiba said that "discussions person gradually travel together," and that Tokyo's narration with U.S. President Donald Trump is "surprisingly good."

However, Ishiba said that Washington's statement with London, announced connected Thursday, which lowers prohibitive duties connected British car exports portion keeping a baseline 10% tariff successful place, was "one model" for commercialized deals, "but we should purpose for 0% tariffs."

Saying that precocious car import levies would marque cars much costly for U.S. consumers, Ishiba added, "for the involvement of the American system arsenic well, shouldn't those tariffs beryllium lowered?"

Trump said connected Friday that the U.S. volition support a baseline 10% tariff connected imports adjacent aft commercialized deals are struck, adding determination could beryllium exemptions erstwhile countries connection important commercialized terms.

Currently, Japan faces a 25% levy connected economically important car exports to the United States, and a reciprocal 24% tariff connected different Japanese goods.

In presumption of supporting the home economy, Ishiba said that the authorities needs to deliberation cautiously astir a mooted simplification successful depletion tax.

"If we abruptly little the depletion tax, what happens to the country's finances?" helium said.

"We person to deliberation if determination aren't different ways that we tin assistance those who are genuinely successful need."

(Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)