Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Japan be excluded from a series of tariffs President Donald Trump plans to impose.

The two top diplomats talked briefly on Saturday in Munich, Germany.

Iwaya asked that Japan be excluded from 25 percent tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum.

He asked that Japan not be subject to measures known as "reciprocal tariffs." That means the United States would pose the same levies on goods imported from other countries if they place higher tariffs on US goods.

Iwaya also raised the issue of tariffs on Japanese automobiles exported to the US.

Iwaya and Rubio reaffirmed that the two countries will communicate closely to deepen bilateral economic relations.

Iwaya also told Rubio that he would like to hold a "two-plus-two" meeting of foreign and defense chiefs as soon as possible, based on the Japan-US summit held earlier this month.