Photo/Illutration Ryosei Akazawa, right, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, meets with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C., on June 5. (provided by U.S. Department of Commerce)

WASHINGTON--Japan and the United States failed to find common ground in their fifth round of talks on Washington’s high tariff policy, according to Japan’s top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa.

“We confirmed once again the position of Japan and the U.S., and further progress was made in discussions toward the realization of an agreement,” said Akazawa, minister in charge of economic revitalization, after meeting with U.S. Cabinet members here on June 6.

“But we have not found any point of agreement.”

Akazawa was visiting the United States for the third consecutive week.

This time around, he met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for 45 minutes and then with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Akazawa also met with Lutnick for 1 hour and 50 minutes the day before.

After the latest talks, Akazawa told reporters that he had again called strongly for the elimination of the Trump administration’s tariff policy.

He said the discussions focused on trade expansion, nontariff measures, and economic and security cooperation.

Akazawa added that both sides confirmed they “will coordinate vigorously to reach an agreement that is beneficial to both the U.S. and Japan.”

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump are scheduled to hold face-to-face talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada on June 15-17.

“The timing of the summit was much on our minds during the negotiations,” Akazawa said, 

He said the two leaders will be given an update on the progress of the talks before their summit meeting.

His remarks were seen as an indication that the G-7 summit is being considered for an announcement on a de facto agreement.

Akazawa noted that the Japanese economy continues to take a battering from Trump’s tariffs.

He added, “If the tariff measures can be reviewed, we have no intention of waiting until the summit.”

In reality, however, with only a little more than a week to go before the talks are held, it remains to be seen how both parties can get closer.

(This article was written by Chinami Tajika, and correspondent Ken Sakakibara.)

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