Officials in Tokyo are scrambling to find ways to alleviate the impact of US reciprocal tariffs that kicked in on Wednesday. Japan also faces an additional 25-percent levy on autos, which took effect last week.



Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has appointed Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei as Japan's chief negotiator to deal with the Trump administration.



Akazawa plans to set up a team of officials from the ministries in charge of foreign affairs, the economy, trade and industry to analyze Washington's approaches. He will also try to gather bargaining chips in various fields.



Akazawa wants to visit the US to begin discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.



Prime Minister Ishiba has already sent a senior diplomat to Washington to lay the groundwork.



Economy and Trade Minister Muto Yoji met with the top management of automakers on Tuesday. He asked them to protect their small to mid-sized business partners from the tariffs' impacts.



The business leaders urged the government to negotiate with the US tenaciously and provide assistance to companies.



Experts are warning that Japan's economy could shrink due to the impact of the 24-percent levy. Researchers at a private think-tank and other experts project that the duties will push down Japan's GDP by 0.3 percent to 0.8 percent.



A wide range of Japanese industries are expected to be hit.



Some analysts say the impact will be comparable to the 2008 global financial crisis or the COVID pandemic.