TOKYO (AP) — Japan's chief trade negotiator will visit the United States this week for talks aimed at convincing U.S. President Donald Trump to remove tariff measures against the East Asian country, officials said Tuesday.
Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa will be in Washington from Wednesday to Friday for talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
The visit is to “build a relationship of trust” between the two sides, with Japan requesting the U.S. side to drop the tariff measures, Hayashi said. “The government will tackle the challenge and work as one so that we can resolve the issue as soon as possible.”
Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S.
“I will carefully think what will best serve Japan's national interest, what will be most effective and do my utmost in the negotiation,” Akazawa told reporters Tuesday.
Trump last week abruptly announced a 90-day pause on the latest series of duties, which put Japan's 24% across-the-board on hold, but the 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. are kept in place.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described the situation as “a national crisis.”
Ishiba, however, told a parliamentary session Monday that “haste makes waste” and that he was in no rush to conclude the negotiations with the U.S. He also said Japan is not retaliating with tariffs against the United States, saying the measures weren't beneficial.
With concerns rising that U.S. tariffs may deal a serious blow to Japan's economy, Ishiba's government seeks to cooperate and exchange views with other countries that support free trade and multilateralism.
Later Monday, Ishiba held telephone talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong about the impact of U.S. tariffs on the two major Asian economies. Ishiba also held phone talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week.
Japan, China and South Korea held talks in March just before Trump's tariffs went into effect, emphasizing their support for free trade and cooperation, with China expressing enthusiasm to push forward negotiations toward setting up their trilateral trade framework.
Japan's chief trade negotiator and Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, center, speaks to the reporters before this departure for the U.S., at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a three-run homer and Kyle Manzardo went deep on the next pitch in the third inning, helping the Cleveland Guardians beat the American League-leading New York Yankees 6-4 on Monday night.
Ramírez and Manzardo both cleared the fence in right off Clarke Schmidt (0-1), who gave up five runs in four innings. Manzardo has homered in three straight games and has a team-high seven.
Cleveland led 6-0 before Jasson Domínguez hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had been in a 1-for-18 slide, had a two-run drive in the eighth. The Yankees went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
New York, playing Cleveland for the first time since winning last year's AL Championship Series, lost for the second time in eight games.
Aaron Judge extended his on-base streak to 19 games, going 1 of 4 with a walk, but struck out against Cade Smith with a runner on second for the final out. The reigning AL MVP leads the majors with a .384 average, 33 hits and 25 RBIs.
Gavin Williams (2-1) allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in his first win over an AL East squad in eight career starts and Smith worked the ninth for his second big league save, his first this season.
Schmidt, who made his season debut last Wednesday, held the Guardians hitless in the first two innings before allowing two homers, two doubles and three singles over the next two frames.
With 668 extra-base hits, all with Cleveland, Ramírez moved past Hall of Famer Tris Speaker for sole possession of second on the team career list behind Hall of Famer Earl Averill (724).
Yankees RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.17 ERA) takes on Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (1-2, 5.85 ERA) on Tuesday in the second game of the three-game series.
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New York Yankees' Aaron Judge warms up before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, left, talks with New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, before a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt pauses after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan, right, slides home as he evades a tag by New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
New York Yankees' Jasson Dominguez, right, is greeted by Pablo Reyes (19) after his two-run home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
New York Yankees' Jasson Dominguez celebrates after his two-run home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan (38) and Brayan Rocchio, left rear, congratulate Jose Ramirez, right, after Ramirez's three-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio watches his RBI single off New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt with catcher Austin Wells during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches his double off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, right, watches his three-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt with catcher Austin Wells, center, and umpire Nick Mahrley, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
