Japan’s Akazawa Visits US After Staff-Level Talks Progress

Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa left for the US for ministerial talks, after lower level discussions on the July trade deal largely wrapped up — an indication that the two sides are making progress on implementing the agreement.

“Administrative discussions have been finalized, and I am now traveling to the US as I think we should hold ministerial-level talks now,” Akazawa told reporters Thursday at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport as he left for Washington. “Both Japan and the US have agreed to implement the agreement reached in July faithfully and swiftly.”