Japan asked the United States on Wednesday to exempt it from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on steel and aluminum exports, a Tokyo government spokesman said.
Trump signed an executive order imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting March 12, sparking angry reactions internationally including from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
“We are aware of the presidential order on additional steel and aluminum tariffs,” Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference. “We have asked the US government to exclude our country from these measures.”
He said the request was made through the Japanese embassy in the United States early Wednesday.
“Japan will carefully study the content of the measures and their impact on our country and make the necessary policy,” the government spokesman added.
