Japans top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held in-depth phone discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday and Saturday, as both nations seek resolution before a 24% reciprocal tariff on

As Tokyo seeks to avert the US' threat to impose tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Japanese goods, Prime Minister Ishiba stressed that Japan, as the biggest investor nation in the US economy, should be treated differently from other countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump's views on some tariff-related issues may be based on misunderstanding or misinformation, as a pause on a 24% reciprocal tariff on imports from Japan expires next week.