Japan aims to reach a trade agreement with the US through automotive safety regulations

According to foreign media reports, the Japanese government is considering revising its automotive safety standards in hopes of reaching a trade agreement with US President Trump.

US automakers have long complained about non-tariff barriers in the Japanese market that hinder their entry, including stringent safety standards. A report released by the US Trade Representative last month pointed out that Japan does not accept US automotive safety standard certifications, arguing that US standards fail to meet the same level of protection as Japan's domestic standards. At the same time, Japan has set up special detection requirements and thresholds for sales and service networks, impeding the entry of US automobiles into the Japanese market.

According to Nikkei, the government led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba believes there is room to relax some of Japan's safety standards, such as those related to crash safety testing.

"We must recognize the differences in traffic conditions between the two countries," Ishiba said in a recent television program on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

The Japanese Prime Minister noted that Japan places greater emphasis on pedestrian safety, while the US emphasizes the protection of in-car passengers in severe collisions. "Even so, we want to ensure that we are not perceived as unfair," he said.

Japan is stepping up efforts to find bargaining chips in negotiations with the US, hoping to reduce the comprehensive tariff rate that has been temporarily lowered from 24% to 10%. Like other countries, Japan's exports of automobiles, steel, and aluminum to the US also face an additional 25% tariff. The automotive manufacturing industry is one of the main pillar industries of Japan's export-dependent economy.

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief negotiator, recently held tariff negotiations with the US in Washington, and both sides have begun preparations for a second round of talks.

As part of its negotiation strategy, Japan is also considering increasing imports of US rice.

The Japanese Prime Minister said that negotiations would take some time, stating, "Haste makes waste. Any agreement must be beneficial to both sides. If only one side wins and the other loses, it cannot serve as a model for the world. We hope that the agreement we reach can be a model, and this will take some time."

US President Trump, meanwhile, recently declared "significant progress" in tariff negotiations with Japan, marking one of the first rounds of face-to-face trade talks since he imposed substantial tariff hikes on global imports.