Japan's trade minister says he has not gotten assurances from U.S. officials that the key U.S. ally will be exempt from higher tariffs, some of which take effect on Wednesday.

Japanese trade minister Yoji Muto met with American officials Monday in hopes that exemptions from new tariffs that President Donald Trump plans to levy against some of his nation's imports but has no

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick linked the 25% tariffs on car imports, set to begin on April 2, to cutting the U.S. trade deficit with Japan.

The country’s trade minister stressed its role as a top investor and employer in the United States in a bid to avoid being hit by new levies on metals and cars.