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.

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

TOKYO - Japan said on March 12 it was “regrettable” that the country had not been granted an exemption from US President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs of 25 per cent.

The minister, Yoji Muto, is expected to negotiate with U.S. officials ahead of global tariffs that could damage Japanese businesses, including automotive giants.

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.