Trump meeting with Japanese officials on tariffs as trade war scrambles global economy
WASHINGTON —President Donald Trump is taking trade negotiations into his own hands, meeting with Japanese officials to see if he can cut a deal as his new tariffs scramble trade relations with countries around the world.
Trump sat in on talks between a Japanese delegation and members of his administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, that did not appear to conclude with an immediate agreement but he said yielded "big progress."
"Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS,'" Trump wrote on social media before the meeting on April 16. "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!"
Trump announced big reciprocal tariffs on many countries, including Japan, but then paused all of them for 90 days, except tariffs on China, while he negotiates. A 10% universal tariff went into effect. Japan was due to face a tariff hike of 24% before the pause. The U.S. had a trade deficit of $68.5 billion with Japan in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Now, the Trump administration is pushing to work out new trade deals with dozens of countries. Nothing has been announced yet, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on April 15 that 15 countries have submitted proposals.
"We've had more than 15 deals, pieces of paper, put on the table, proposals that are actively being considered. And as we've said consistently, more than 75 countries have reached out," Leavitt said.
In the immediate aftermath of the pause on higher tariffs, Bessent said that the White House needed time to process the proposed agreements, each of which he said would be "bespoke" and would require separate negotiations.
"It is going to take some time. And President Trump wants to be personally involved. So, that's why we're getting the 90-day pause," Bessent told reporters on April 9 at the White House.
This story has been updated to include additional information.