Japan says 'significant gaps' with US in trade package talks
Japan's trade minister, Ryosei Akazawa, speaks as he attends a ceremony to mark the United States national day at the Osaka Expo in the city of Osaka on Jul 19, 2025. (File photo: AFP)
WASHINGTON: "Significant gaps" persist between the United States and Japan over what should be the first projects under Tokyo's US$550-billion investment package, Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa said on Thursday (Feb 12).
Akazawa is in Washington to discuss the colossal investment promised in the US in exchange for reducing threatened tariffs on Japan.
"There were still areas where significant gaps remained. Nevertheless, we were able to see further progress," Akazawa told reporters in the American capital.
He and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick "confirm every time we meet that participating Japanese and American companies must be able to earn solid profits and absolutely not suffer losses," Akazawa said.
"There won't be high-risk, high-return ventures."
He added that there had been "no decisions" regarding the schedule for future discussions or his next visit.
