ISTANBUL

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday expressed his desire to have fresh talks with US President Donald Trump over tariffs.

Ishiba's remarks followed his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo ahead of the US’ announced tariff deadline of Aug. 1.

The Japanese prime minister requested Bessent to advance the ongoing tariff negotiations "vigorously" with Japan's top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, according to the Kyodo news agency.

Ishiba said that he would like to talk directly with Trump if necessary to defend Japanese "national interests."

He said that Bessent affirmed the possibility of reaching "a good agreement" between Tokyo and Washington, according to the Jiji Press.

Bessent is in Japan to attend a US national day event on Saturday at the World Exposition in the coastal city of Osaka, western Japan.

Tokyo and Washington have been negotiating a deal to avoid 25% US tariffs on Japanese exports to the world's largest economy.

The Ishiba government hopes to use the visit to step up negotiations before the tariff takes effect on Aug. 1.

On July 7, Trump notified several US trading partners of increased country-specific "reciprocal tariff" rates, with Japan due to be subject to 25% tariffs as of Aug. 1 unless another deal is reached beforehand.