Comprehensive Response Headquarters for U.S. Tariff Measures

On July 8, 2025, Prime Minister Ishiba held the fifth meeting of the Comprehensive Response Headquarters for U.S. Tariff Measures at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on response to the U.S. tariff measures.

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said:

“On July 7 (local time), we received a letter from the U.S. government stating that it would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Japan, effective from August 1.

While aiming to reach an agreement with the United States as soon as possible, we have consistently pursued our position of protecting Japan’s national interests simultaneously. We have continued to engage in sincere and earnest discussions through direct exchanges between President Trump and myself at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting in June, Minister Akazawa’s visits to the U.S. and ministerial-level consultations.

However, there are still areas on which Japan and the U.S. cannot agree, and we are unfortunately not yet at a point where we have reached an agreement. This is because the Japanese government has continued to engage in tough negotiations, avoiding easy compromises and requesting what should be requested while protecting what should be protected.

At the same time, repeated consultations with the U.S. side have led to some progress in the discussions. The tariff rate specified in this letter is neither the 30% or 35% recently announced by President Trump, but rather a de facto freeze, and an extension of the deadline for negotiations.

We have also received a proposal from the U.S. side indicating that, depending on Japan’s response, it is willing to review the contents of the letter and to swiftly move forward with negotiations toward the new deadline of August 1.

It is extremely regrettable that the U.S. government has announced an increase in tariff rates on top of the additional tariffs it has already imposed. At the same time, as the deadline has been extended following our negotiations to date, I ask the relevant ministers to do the following.

Firstly, please continue the tariff consultations with the United States while protecting our national interests, and to actively seek a possible agreement that serves the interests of both Japan and the United States.

Secondly, please assess the U.S. government’s actions which include the series of tariff measures and the responses of other countries, and to thoroughly examine their impact on Japan.

Thirdly, please continue to make every effort to mitigate the impact of the series of tariff measures on Japan’s domestic industries and employment.

I request all ministers to continue consultations with the U.S. while protecting our national interests, and I call on the Government to work as one in giving this issue the highest priority and making all-out efforts to address it.”