Japan and US trade negotiators spoke again on Saturday, Japan gov't says

15/6/2025 7:07

Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke by phone for 30 minutes on Saturday and explored the possibility of a trade deal, the Japanese government said in a statement.



The phone call follows in-person meetings on Friday between Akazawa and Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent -- talks that Akazawa had described to media on Friday as very detailed and an advance towards of a potential trade agreement.



Using similar language, the Japanese government statement described Saturday's discussion between Akazawa as "very in-depth" and said the two sides "explored the possibility of reaching an agreement that would benefit" both countries.



The statement said the negotiations occurred "with an eye towards" the planned meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven leaders' summit that begins on Sunday in Canada.