WASHINGTON, D.C. — In one of his first in-person trade discussions since shaking up global markets with sweeping import tariffs, former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Japanese officials on Wednesday and claimed “big progress” in negotiations—though few concrete details were revealed.
The talks, which Japan initially viewed as a low-key, fact-finding session, quickly escalated in scope when Trump announced his personal involvement. Tokyo had hoped to focus strictly on trade and investment, but Trump expanded the agenda to include more sensitive issues—such as how much Japan pays to host U.S. troops.
“A Great Honour to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!” Trump wrote on social media after the meeting. However, the message didn’t include any specifics.
Representing Japan was Ryosei Akazawa, a key advisor to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Minister for Economic Revitalization. After the meeting, Akazawa told reporters the two sides had agreed to meet again later this month, and that Trump had described a trade deal with Japan as a “top priority.”
Exchange rates—a long-standing tension point with Washington accusing Tokyo of currency manipulation—were not discussed in this round, Akazawa confirmed. Despite that, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen by about 0.5% on the day, likely driven by investor reaction to Trump’s comments.
Akazawa’s White House meeting with Trump lasted roughly 50 minutes, followed by an extended 90-minute session with senior U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
From Tokyo, Prime Minister Ishiba urged caution, saying he wasn’t in a rush to cut a deal and would not offer major concessions. “Negotiations won’t be easy, but President Trump has made it clear Japan is a top priority,” Ishiba told local reporters.
Trump’s renewed engagement in trade talks comes as he lines up a series of similar meetings. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected at the White House on Thursday to discuss tariffs on EU goods, and South Korea’s finance minister is scheduled for a visit next week.
With multiple international trade partners on deck, Trump appears to be taking a more hands-on approach, signaling that tariffs and tough trade negotiations will remain a central part of his global economic strategy.
