US, Japan Start Talks to Resolve Metal Tariffs Dispute

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, left, talks with Japanese International Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, proper, throughout their assembly in Tokyo on Nov. 15, 2021.

AP Picture/Koji Sasahara, Pool

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. and Japanese officers agreed Monday to launch talks aimed toward settling a dispute over American tariffs on imports of Japanese metal and aluminum.

The settlement got here in a gathering between visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Japan’s minister of economic system, commerce and trade, Koichi Hagiuda, Japanese officers stated.

Japan hopes to persuade Washington to raise tariffs imposed throughout President Donald Trump’s administration.

The U.S. lately resolved an identical dispute with the European Union in a deal officers stated addresses extra capability that may distort the metal market. It patched up a trans-Atlantic rift and is supposed to create a framework for decreasing the carbon-intensity of metal and aluminum manufacturing that contributes to the warming of the earth.

Trump ordered the additional tariffs, 25% on metal imports and 10% on aluminum, in March 2018, asserting they might defend U.S. jobs and nationwide safety.

Hagiuda made it clear within the assembly that Japan needs the tariff situation “utterly” resolved, according to the World Commerce Group, commerce and trade ministry officers stated after the talks. Japan considers U.S. tariffs imposed on metal and aluminum imported from Japan as “problematic,” they stated.

Raimondo responded to a request by Japanese International Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi throughout a gathering Monday to scrap the additional tariffs on Japanese metal and aluminum exports to america by saying she deliberate to sort out the problem as a precedence, the International Ministry stated.

Late final week, the Commerce Division issued a press release asserting the beginning of consultations with Japan by Raimondo and United States Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai “to handle international metal and aluminum extra capability, take efficient measures to make sure the long-term viability of our metal and aluminum industries, and discover options to strengthen our democratic alliance.”

Extra metal and aluminum capability has worsened over the a long time as China ramped up its output to ranges that dwarf manufacturing by different nations. China produced 1.06 billion tons of crude metal in 2020, in line with the World Metal Affiliation. The following largest producer, India, put out 100 million tons, whereas Japan produced 83.7 million tons and the U.S. almost 73 million tons.

China additionally accounts for greater than half of all world aluminum output.

The 2 sides additionally issued a press release saying they are going to arrange the “Japan-U.S. Industrial and Industrial Partnership.” The Commerce Division and Japan’s Ministry of Financial system, Commerce and Business stated they’re “dedicated to working by way of JUCIP to strengthen the competitiveness, resiliency, and safety of each economies.”

“It’s so necessary for each of our international locations and coordination in these key areas is important for our international financial restoration, and our capability to grab our alternatives in a post-pandemic world,” Raimondo stated in opening remarks to the assembly.

She stated “the Division of Commerce’s dedication to Japan is unwavering, as is our need to strengthen our financial partnerships with like-minded international locations.”

Raimondo is predicted to go to Malaysia and Singapore after Tokyo. Tai is visiting Japan for a number of days starting Tuesday.

Japanese officers stated Raimondo pressured the significance of robust Japan-U.S. ties and management within the Indo-Pacific area. The 2 officers additionally agreed to cooperate in dealing with different challenges reminiscent of local weather change.

“For Japan and america that lead the worldwide economic system and share values reminiscent of free and truthful financial order, it’s important that we strengthen financial and technological cooperation together with provide chain resilience,” Hagiuda stated.