Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he once again spoke to US President Donald Trump about lifting tariffs on Friday. The two leaders held a phone conversation ahead of another round of trade talks focused on reducing the tariffs.

Japan, a close ally of the US and its largest foreign investor, still faces a standard 10 percent tariff like other countries. In addition, it is subject to even higher taxes on products such as cars, steel, and aluminium.

In early April, President Trump had announced a 24 percent "reciprocal" tariff on Japanese goods. However, he later decided to delay these extra duties, along with similar actions against other nations, until early July.

Broad Discussion on Economic Issues

Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo that the phone call with Trump lasted 45 minutes on Friday morning (Thursday evening in Washington). During the conversation, they covered many issues, especially the tariff situation and economic security.

"I conveyed to him Japan's position on US tariffs," Ishiba stated. He added, "There is no change to our calls for the removal of tariffs."

He further explained, “As I’ve said before, it’s not just about tariffs but about investment. There will also be no change to our position that Japan and the US will cooperate on generating employment in the US.”

Japan Sends Envoy for More Trade Talks

The prime minister’s comments came as Japan’s economic revitalisation minister, Ryosei Akazawa, departed for Washington. He is representing Japan in the third round of discussions aimed at resolving the tariff dispute.

Akazawa spoke to journalists at Haneda Airport before his trip. “The series of tariff measures taken by the US are regrettable. We’ll strongly demand a review of these measures,” he said.

However, he also stressed the importance of compromise. “But we have to reach an agreement, so it has to be win-win for both sides. We’ll listen carefully to the various proposals and ideas of the US side, and look for common ground between the two sides,” Akazawa added.

US Official Skips Talks, Further Meetings Planned

Japanese media, including NHK, reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would not be present at this round of negotiations. According to these reports, Akazawa plans to return to Washington on May 30 for further discussions.

Auto Tariffs Hit Japan Hard

The US decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on vehicles has significantly hurt Japan. About eight percent of jobs in Japan are linked to the automotive industry, making the sector highly sensitive to trade changes.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration also introduced an additional 25 percent tax on car parts such as engines and transmissions, increasing pressure on Japan’s economy.

Back in February, during a meeting at the White House, Ishiba had assured Trump that Japanese investment in the US would reach $1 trillion annually.

Analyst Says Investment Isn’t Enough

Stefan Angrick, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, noted that recent trade agreements between the US and countries like China and the UK suggest the US is trying to ease trade tensions. However, Japan has seen little progress in its talks with Washington.

“Japan’s position as the world’s largest foreign investor in the US hasn’t shielded it from tariff threats, so promising more investment is an unconvincing bargaining chip,” Angrick explained.