Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister and chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, has engaged in multiple rounds of trade talks with U.S. officials throughout June and July 2025, focusing on the review of U.S. tariffs imposed under the Trump administration. Akazawa conducted the seventh ministerial-level tariff negotiations during a visit to Washington from June 26 to 29, meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and attempting to arrange discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent, though the latter meeting did not materialize during that visit. Following his return to Japan, Akazawa continued vigorous negotiations via phone calls with Lutnick on multiple occasions, including two calls in early July, and later with Treasury Secretary Bessent. Both sides agreed to continue active consultations amid concerns over the U.S. plan to impose a 25% tariff on Japanese goods starting August 1, 2025. Akazawa reported these developments to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba, who urged sustained dialogue with U.S. counterparts. On July 21, Akazawa returned to the U.S. for further talks, holding over two hours of discussions with Lutnick in Washington on July 22, marking his eighth trip for trade negotiations. Despite ongoing talks, Akazawa stated there is no gap in understanding between Japan and the U.S. on the trade deal, but he also confirmed that no discussions have taken place with President Trump or U.S. officials regarding the implementation of any agreement, and currently, there are no plans to sign a legally binding trade deal. Both Japan and the U.S. have committed to continuing vigorous and sincere negotiations to resolve tariff issues and promote mutually beneficial trade relations.