Japan Rejects U.S. Auto Tariffs as Talks Continue

Japan's chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, has firmly rejected the 25% U.S. tariffs on foreign-made cars, calling them unacceptable as he travels to Washington for the seventh round of trade talks. Japanese automakers, who produce over 3.3 million vehicles annually in the U.S. and have invested more than $60 billion, argue that these contributions should be recognized in negotiations. The Trump administration defends the tariffs as a measure to encourage domestic production and counter unfair trade practices. The tariffs, already in effect, have resulted in price hikes by automakers and sparked criticism from U.S. lawmakers worried about inflation and consumer costs. The dispute remains unresolved following a failed summit between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Trump, with a 90-day pause on additional tariffs set to expire soon. Talks continue at the ministerial level amid rising pressure to reach a resolution.