Trump says ‘big progress’ after talks with Japan on tariff deal

President Donald Trmp said negotiators made “big progress” after a meeting with a Japanese delegation on Wednesday aimed at securing a deal that would avoid higher levies he has threatened against US trading partners.

“A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress,” Trump wrote in a post to his Truth Social network.

Trump earlier in the day had said he would personally attend the talks, which were led by the US Treasury and Commerce Departments.

Japan’s economic revitalisation minister Ryosei Akazawa arrived in Washington to conduct the negotiations.

Foreign capitals are racing to negotiate deals with the US to avert high import taxes Trump imposed — and then quickly paused — on about 60 trading partners.

The negotiations with Japan are being closely watched, offering a test case for other nations uncertain over what concessions Trump will seek to extract in exchange for trade agreements.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Japan, a military ally, will likely be prioritised as the US deals with a flood of nations all looking to cut their own deals.

Bessent has said he envisions reaching agreements with Japan and other military allies to develop a collective effort to apply economic pressure on China.