<div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Japanese officials are visiting Washington this week to negotiate with the Trump administration ahead of <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/us/politics/trump-tariffs-steel-aluminum.html" title="">sweeping U.S. tariffs</a> that are set to affect exports, including metals and cars, from Japan and a number of other countries.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Japan’s trade minister, Yoji Muto, is scheduled to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday, according to a person familiar with the official’s itinerary who requested anonymity to discuss plans that could still change. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK also reported on the details of the meeting.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The meeting is expected to take place two days before the United States is set to <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/us/politics/trump-tariffs-steel-aluminum.html" title="">impose a 25 percent tariff</a> on all steel and aluminum imports. In addition to seeking exemptions from these tariffs, Mr. Muto is expected to request relief from a <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/us/politics/trump-auto-tariffs.html" title="">potential 25 percent tariff on foreign cars</a> — a measure President Trump has indicated could take effect as soon as April 2.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Of all those measures, the auto tariffs would hit Japan’s economy the hardest. Automobiles are the country’s largest export, and the United States is their top destination. Analysts say that Japan and South Korea, another major car manufacturer, are likely to be most heavily impacted by the policy.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">At a news conference on Friday, Mr. Muto said he hoped to establish a “win-win” relationship with the United States during his visit this week. Given the central importance of the auto industry to Japan’s economy, he said, “our main request to the United States is that we continue to build industries together.”</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Japan has been considering using potential investments in a <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/business/trump-tariffs-alaska-lng-japan.html" title="">$44 billion plan</a> to produce and export natural gas from Alaska as a negotiating tool with the United States. When President Trump addressed Congress last week, he said that Japan and South Korea <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/us/politics/trump-lng-japan-south-korea.html" title="">want to work with the United States</a> on the long-stalled project, known as Alaska L.N.G.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">A spokeswoman for Japan’s economy ministry declined to comment on the specifics of Mr. Muto’s meetings or their timing.</p><p class="css-798hid etfikam0">Kiuko Notoya<!-- --> contributed reporting.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div>