President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised what he described as “big progress” in early tariff talks with Japan, marking one of the first major face-to-face discussions since his sweeping import tariffs rattled global markets and stirred concerns over a potential recession.
The Japanese delegation, which had initially viewed the talks as a routine, fact-finding exchange, was reportedly surprised by Trump’s direct involvement — a clear indication of his desire to personally steer negotiations with several countries in the coming weeks.
While Tokyo had aimed to keep the focus on trade and investment, Trump revealed that other sensitive topics, including Japan’s financial contributions toward hosting U.S. troops, were also discussed.
“A great honour to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big progress!” Trump posted on social media, though he shared no specifics.
Trump met with Ryosei Akazawa, a trusted ally of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the country’s Minister for Economic Revitalization. After the meeting, Akazawa told reporters that both sides had agreed to hold a second round of talks later this month, adding that Trump had emphasized a deal with Japan as a “top priority.”
One issue not on the agenda, according to Akazawa, was currency manipulation — a point of previous contention, as Washington has accused Tokyo of weakening the yen to gain a trade edge. Following the talks, the dollar rose approximately 0.5% against the yen, reflecting market response to the forex clarification.
Akazawa’s 50-minute meeting with Trump was followed by further discussions with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, which lasted nearly an hour and a half, according to Japanese sources.
Back in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba struck a more measured tone, acknowledging that the road ahead would be challenging.
“The negotiations will not be easy going forward,” Ishiba said, “but President Trump has made it clear that talks with Japan are among his top priorities.”
Meanwhile, the White House continues its flurry of trade diplomacy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet with Trump on Thursday to discuss EU tariffs, while South Korea’s finance minister has been invited to Washington for discussions next week.
