ISTANBUL 

Japan’s prime minister on Sunday reaffirmed Tokyo’s demand that the US remove its 25% tariffs on automobiles after it made a similar deal with Britain, Jiji Press reported.

Shigeru Ishiba’s comments came days after US President Donald Trump agreed to end 25% tariffs on British steel and aluminum and cut car tariffs from 27.5% to 10% for most UK vehicle exports.

"It is a model," Ishiba said during a television appearance, referring to the US-Britain agreement. But he stressed that Japan’s trade and investment relationship with the US differs from that of the UK.

Creating a low-tariff quota is “one way,” he added, but noted that Britain exports only around 100,000 cars to the US annually – far fewer than Japan.

He stressed that Tokyo will continue to push for the complete elimination of US tariffs on Japanese cars.

Ishiba also underlined the role of Japanese carmakers in the US economy.

“If we exhaust the Japanese auto industry, we will not be able to invest in the United States,” he said, referencing the sector’s contribution to job creation across US states.

Japan’s chief government tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, also said Friday that Tokyo is seeking full removal of US levies. That includes the 24% “reciprocal” tariffs currently under a 90-day suspension, as well as the 25% duties on automobiles, steel, and aluminum.