August 9, 2018

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan will try to avert steep tariffs on its car exports and fend off U.S. demands for a bilateral free trade agreement at talks on Thursday in Washington, but a quick fix for the trade imbalance between the two countries appears elusive.

Interviews with Japanese trade officials and politicians suggest Tokyo is struggling with a strategy to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon his aggressive push to reduce the $69 billion (£53.5 billion) trade deficit with its security ally.

Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will discuss the issue with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as part of talks on "free, fair and reciprocal" trade, the framework to which Trump and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe agreed in April.

Read more:

http://www.euronews.com/2018/08/08/no-easy-answers-as-japan-us-head-for-new-round-of-trade-talks