For Americans who were awaiting the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the delay of U.S. pre-orders for the gaming console this April was one indication of what’s to come.

Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Saturday he planned to visit Washington next week to hold further ministerial-level talks with the United States. Tokyo hopes to clinch a deal by an August 1 deadline that will avert President Donald Trump's tariff of 25% on imports from Japan.

Unlike the European Union, the Japanese government has made no indication it plans to impose any kind of reciprocal tariff on the U.S.

TOKYO, July 17 (Reuters) - Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on U.S. tariffs on Thursday, as Tokyo races to avert a 25% levy that will be imposed unless a deal is clinched by an August 1 deadline.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo on Friday ahead of the scheduled imposition of 25% duty on Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the announcement of slightly higher US tariffs “truly regrettable” while he vowed to continue to protect his nation’s interests in the extended trade negotiations.

A mutually beneficial U.S.-Japan tariff agreement is still possible, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo.

Exports fell for a second straight month in June, fueling fears that U.S. tariffs will halt Japan’s economic recovery and complicate the central bank’s policy plans.