TOKYO – U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 23, during which the two leaders discussed trade, tariffs, and regional security, amid continuing tensions over U.S. tariff measures and slow-moving negotiations on a trade deal.
The 45-minute conversation came just as Japan’s top trade envoy, Ryosei Akazawa, departed for Washington for a third round of trade talks. Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters that while Mr. Trump did not make any specific commitments or announcements regarding tariffs, Japan reiterated its long-standing request for their removal.
“We have consistently requested the removal of tariff measures, and our position remains unchanged,” Ishiba said. “The President has made no specific mention of this matter.”
The leaders also touched on broader topics including economic security cooperation, diplomacy, and national defense, with Trump reportedly briefing Ishiba on the outcomes of his recent Middle East trip. The call marks the first direct communication between the two leaders since early April, shortly after the U.S. imposed sweeping tariff hikes on multiple countries, including Japan.
The call also signals that Japan remains on Washington’s radar, even as it lags behind other nations in forging a new bilateral trade agreement. Ishiba emphasized that Japan would not sacrifice its national interests for a rushed deal, particularly in light of the looming threat of an increased “reciprocal tariff” from 10% to 24% in July.
“Japan will not compromise its national interests by rushing into a deal or striking an agreement that does not address the car levy,” Ishiba said. “We should focus on investment rather than tariffs.”
Japan’s auto industry, which employs roughly 8% of the workforce and represents about a third of the country’s exports to the U.S., remains especially vulnerable to Washington’s tariff threats. The Trump administration has imposed a 25% levy on Japanese autos, steel, and aluminum, placing significant pressure on one of Japan’s key economic sectors.
Mr. Akazawa is expected to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will reportedly skip the current round of discussions. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Akazawa is likely to return to Washington on May 30 for a separate meeting with Bessent—a sign that negotiations remain complex and a resolution may still be weeks away.
While no major breakthroughs are expected during this round of talks, both sides appear committed to maintaining dialogue, with an in-person meeting between Trump and Ishiba set for the G7 summit in Canada next month.