Trump hails 'big progress' with Japan on tariff talks

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US and Japan made major strides in talks aimed at avoiding major tariffs that he has vowed to impose on Tokyo.

"A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!" he said in a brief social media post after the talks concluded.

Trump earlier Wednesday said he would be personally attending the talks, which he said would also address US military support for Japan and what he called "trade fairness."

The White House has said dozens of nations have been seeking to negotiate with the US to avoid tariffs above a 10% baseline that Trump established earlier this month for nations around the world. Japan was hit with 24% tariffs under Trump's "reciprocal" levy policy, though it and droves of other nations were given a 90-day pause to pursue negotiations.

The 10% baseline remains in place in the interim, however.

Despite Trump's upbeat note, it is unclear if any major breakthroughs were made during Wednesday's negotiations. Additional details on the sit-down were not immediately available.

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US and Japan made major strides in talks aimed at avoiding major tariffs that he has vowed to impose on Tokyo.

"A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!" he said in a brief social media post after the talks concluded.

Trump earlier Wednesday said he would be personally attending the talks, which he said would also address US military support for Japan and what he called "trade fairness."

The 10% baseline remains in place in the interim, however.

Despite Trump's upbeat note, it is unclear if any major breakthroughs were made during Wednesday's negotiations. Additional details on the sit-down were not immediately available.