Japanese media: The U.S. claims that Japan will still face an additional 15% equivalent tariff.

According to Japan's Kyodo News on August 7, a White House official stated on Wednesday that imported goods from Japan that are subject to a tariff of 15% or more will still face an additional 15% "reciprocal tariff," which differs from the treatment given to the European Union. The official pointed out that contrary to Japan's interpretation of the recent bilateral trade agreement terms, the U.S. will not grant Japan similar special treatment. According to the trade agreement reached previously between the U.S. and Japan, Japan's "reciprocal tariff" rate is set at 15%, with a "benchmark tariff" of 10% already being imposed since April, and the applicable rate for Japan will increase from 10% to 15% starting in August. Japan's Minister of Economic Revitalization, Ryō Akasaki, stated on the 6th that it was previously confirmed with the U.S. side that for goods with an existing tariff rate below 15%, the total tariff rate should be 15% after the increase in August. However, an announcement released by the U.S. government recently indicated that goods from Japan that have been taxed need to incur an additional 15% on top of the existing rate, which contradicts the agreement and is disadvantageous to Japan.