U.S. to Fix Tariff Overlap in Japan Trade Deal

The U.S. government agreed on Thursday to amend a presidential executive order to eliminate overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods, following talks in Washington with Tokyo’s trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa. Calling the omission “regrettable,” Akazawa urged officials to ensure the newly agreed 15% levy wouldn’t be applied on products like beef, which already face higher duties. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they would revise the July 31 order to include a no-stacking clause for Japan—similar to the EU’s—and refund any excess tariffs collected. They also confirmed that President Trump would reduce auto tariffs from 27.5% to 15% via a separate executive order, in line with last month’s bilateral trade agreement.