Japan's chief negotiator Akazawa Ryosei has arrived back in Japan after a second round of trade talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others in the United States.



He told reporters at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Saturday that they had a very in-depth discussion and were able to move forward through frank and constructive talks toward reaching an agreement that will benefit both sides, as soon as possible.



Akazawa also said the working-level negotiations that had been agreed have started.



He said, in addition to political discussions, those on individual issues and technical details are also very important.
Akazawa said the Japanese government will continue to work on the issue as one, treating it with the highest priority.



Government sources say, while Japan strongly urged the United States to review its tariffs, the US maintained it cannot give Japan special treatment on cars and steel as it did in the first round of talks.



Akazawa said Japan is concerned about the tariffs on such products as cars, car parts, steel and aluminum as well as what the US President Donald Trump calls "reciprocal" tariffs, and is continuing to strongly press for their removal.