Japan is striving to mitigate the impact of the new tariffs imposed by the United States

Japanese officials said that if the United States implements a new import tariff system, Japan might face higher tariffs. However, Tokyo has requested that the United States offer the same treatment to Japan as it did last year when they reached an agreement.

Several Japanese government officials told Reuters on Tuesday (February 24th) that the Japanese government does not plan to renegotiate the trade agreement with Washington before Prime Minister Koizumi Masahiko's upcoming visit to the United States next month.

The US Supreme Court ruled on the 20th that President Trump's imposition of tariffs on trading partners last April, in violation of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), exceeded his presidential authority and was unconstitutional. Trump immediately invoked Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose a new 15% tariff on global imports and the tariffs took effect immediately. 15% is the highest tariff rate that the US president is allowed to implement under this law, and the implementation period is 150 days.

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryutaro Takahashi, said that after Trump announced the new tariff decision last weekend, Japan requested the US government to obtain the same preferential treatment as that agreed upon between the two sides last year.

But he also said that some Japanese export goods that enjoy tariff reduction under the Japan-US trade agreement might face higher tariffs.

On the 23rd, Trump warned countries around the world on social media not to play tricks and abandon the recent trade agreements reached with the United States. Otherwise, he would impose higher tariffs on these countries based on different trade laws. He might also impose licensing fees on trading partners.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan said that Katsuhiko Akizawa reaffirmed on the 23rd during a phone call with US Commerce Secretary Lawrence Lessig that Japan will "sincerely and without delay" fulfill the trade agreement it reached with the United States last July.

When asked about their reaction to the ruling of the US Supreme Court, Akira Akase and other Japanese officials stated that they would carefully study the ruling of the US Supreme Court.

Trump said earlier in February that Takako Takahashi would meet with him at the White House on March 19th.