US President Donald Trump signed an order Thursday to lower tariffs on Japanese autos, as Washington moves to implement a trade pact negotiated with Tokyo.
Japanese autos will face a 15 percent tariff instead of the current 27.5 percent, while the level for many other goods will similarly be capped at 15 percent, according to the text of the executive order published by the White House.
The outcome marks a win for Japan, after Tokyo’s tariff envoy headed to Washington on Thursday to press Trump to sign the document for the changes — weeks after both sides announced their agreement.
Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan welcomed the executive order, which marked “the steadfast implementation” of the deal.
While the two countries had initially unveiled a trade pact in late July, they appeared to diverge in its details.
When Trump in early August implemented higher tariffs on Japan — as part of a flurry targeting dozens of economies — its 15 percent rate stacked on existing levels for many products.
Japan’s tariffs envoy Ryosei Akazawa had earlier told reporters that Washington was expected to revise the rule.
According to the new order, the 15 percent cap for many products will apply retroactively to goods shipped from August 7 — the date that the higher duties on dozens of economies took effect.
The modifications are to be made within seven days of the rule being published on the Federal Register.
