Japan's government has been brainstorming its negotiating strategy for the third-round of tariff talks in Washington later next week.



A focus is on automobile import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that threaten to cause major losses for Japan's car industry.



Tokyo's tariff task force led by Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa met on Thursday. They discussed the challenges faced and how to work out a deal.



"My focus is on our national interests, to protect what needs to be protected and to say what needs to be said," Akazawa said to the reporters after the meeting. "The priority is to achieve an agreement with the United States that is a win-win for both countries."



He has indicated a need to speed up negotiations with the goal of sealing an agreement next month.



Japan's government reportedly wants to have the tariff issues settled in time for the G7 summit that will be held in Canada in mid-June.