---
title: "Japan trade minister plans US visit in March to seek tariff exemptions, Asahi reports"
description: "Feb 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto plans to visit the U.S. in March and will seek exemptions from Trump administration plans to set import tariffs on steel and cars, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-20-japan-trade-minister-plans-us-visit-in-march-to-seek-tariff-exemptions-asahi-reports/"
published: "2025-02-20T06:43:20"
updated: "2025-02-20T06:43:21"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 240
---

# Japan trade minister plans US visit in March to seek tariff exemptions, Asahi reports

> Feb 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto plans to visit the U.S. in March and will seek exemptions from Trump administration plans to set import tariffs on steel and cars, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday.

By Reuters · Published 20 February 2025, 08:43 SAST · Updated 20 February 2025, 08:43 SAST

## Key points
- In a classic case of "let's make a deal," Japan is scrambling to charm U.S. officials with sweet talk about natural gas and steel tariffs, all while reminding Washington just how many jobs are at stake in the land of the rising sun—because nothing says diplomacy like a good old-fashioned economic bargaining chip.
- Japanese officials, led by Muto, are set to meet with U.S. Commerce and Energy Secretaries to discuss acquiring more American natural gas and Nippon Steel's bid for U.S. Steel.
- Japan is seeking exemption from U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, emphasizing the critical importance of the car industry to its economy.
- The automotive sector employs over 5 million people in Japan, accounting for about 8% of the workforce and contributing 3% to the country's GDP.
- Nearly 90% of Japanese firms view Trump's trade policies as detrimental, as Muto plans a U.S. visit before the tariffs take effect on March 12.

## Content

Muto is arranging meetings with newly [confirmed](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AP:4295877341&linkedFromStory=true) U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other top officials also to discuss plans to buy [more American natural gas](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3OJ03F&linkedFromStory=true) and Nippon Steel's 5401.T[stranded bid](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3OY19G&linkedFromStory=true) to acquire U.S. Steel X.N, according to the report.

Japan has asked the U.S. to [exempt it](https://www.reutersconnect.com/d-us-exclude-japan-steel-aluminium-tariffs-2025-02-12/) from steel and aluminium tariffs, Muto said last week.

After U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks to put [25% tariffs on car imports](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3P10DP&linkedFromStory=true) from April, officials said Tokyo has impressed upon Washington how important the car industry is to Japan's economy.

Carmakers such as Toyota 7203.T, Honda 7267.T and Nissan 7201.T and their suppliers employ more than [5 million people](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3NJ0Y1&linkedFromStory=true) in Japan, representing some 8% of the country's workforce, according to a trade group.

The transport machinery sector, including cars, produces about 3% of Japan's GDP, the government said in a [Wednesday report](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL3N3P80IB&linkedFromStory=true), highlighting the potential impact of tariffs.

[Nearly 90%](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL3N3P90ZZ&linkedFromStory=true) of Japanese firms see Trump's policies as harmful to their business environment, a Reuters survey of major Japanese companies found.

Muto aims to visit the U.S. by March 12, when the 25% tariffs on U.S. imports of [steel and aluminium](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3P10OU&linkedFromStory=true) are due to take effect, but the schedule is fluid depending on Japanese parliament budget sessions, Asahi reported, citing multiple unnamed government sources.

(Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Chris Reese, Jamie Freed and Neil Fullick)