Japanese negotiator Ryusei Akazawa announced Wednesday that the additional 50% tariffs imposed by the United States on Japanese steel and aluminum imports are not included in the “massive” trade agreement he just concluded with the Trump administration.
“If you ask me whether the agreement applies to steel and aluminum, the answer is no,” Akazawa told reporters in Washington.
“The agreement does not include anything related to defense spending,” Akazawa said, referring to a point where Trump has called on Japan, a close ally, to increase its military spending, with some speculating that this condition could be included in a broader trade agreement.
