Japan says US promises to correct error on 'tariff stacking'

The US government on Thursday promised to amend a presidential executive order to remove overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods, Tokyo's trade negotiator said, after talks in Washington to fix what he called a “regrettable” oversight.

- KANTARO KOMIYA TIM KELLY

In those discussions, Ryosei Akazawa urged US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that a 15% levy agreed last month on Japanese imports was not stacked on goods, such as beef, that are subject to higher tariffs.

They explained they would amend a July 31 presidential order, which included a no-stacking provision for the European Union but not Japan, and also refund excess duties collected, Mr Akazawa said.

Mr Lutnick and Mr Bessent also said Trump would lower auto tariffs to 15% from 27.5% in a separate executive order, in line with the trade agreement reached by the two countries last month.

"Frankly, I did not expect to be visiting the US again so soon after my last trip," said Mr Akazawa, who has travelled to Washington nine times since April.