Japanese Media: Japan Unable to Obtain Tariff Exemption Commitment from the US

According to Japan's Kyodo News, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama held talks in Washington with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, attempting to shield Japan from the impact of tariffs that the Trump administration plans to impose on imported goods including cars and steel. However, Kajiyama stated that there was no discussion about exemptions and he did not receive any commitments from the U.S. side during negotiations. This suggests that Japan could likely be included in the scope of additional tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum set to take effect on March 12th. Kajiyama emphasized contributions made by Japanese companies towards investment and employment in America, confirming both governments will maintain close consultations moving forward. The discussions also touched upon energy cooperation between Japan and the United States, including a liquefied natural gas development project in Alaska.