Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba urged U.S. Treasury chief Scott Bessent to continue talks with Japan’s chief negotiator to achieve a win-win deal.

TOKYO - Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Saturday (July 19) he planned to visit Washington next week to hold further ministerial-level talks with the United States. Tokyo hopes to clinch a deal by an Aug 1 deadline that will avert President Donald Trump's tariff of 25 per cent on imports from Japan.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba discussed the potential for a beneficial agreement on tariffs. Although no specific terms were discussed, both nations committed to continuing constructive dialogue.

A U.S. trade deal with Japan is still possible, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post on Friday, adding that "a good deal is more important than a rushed deal" and that he looked forward to continuing talks.

Tokyo and Washington have yet to agree on tariff deal as US President Trump's announced deadline of Aug. 1 draws closer - Anadolu Ajansı

Japan is likely to seek a telephone conversation between Akazawa and Bessent before the latter arrives and an in-person meeting during the U.S. official's stay, the Yomiuri reported. It may also seek a meeting between Ishiba and Bessent as well, the newspaper reported.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that their countries can reach a "good agreement" on tariffs, Ishiba said on Friday after meeting Bessent at his office in Tokyo.

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will host US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday (July 18), ahead of a Washington deadline to reach a trade deal or face new tariffs, Tokyo said Thursday (July 17).