Upper house poll results do not affect tariff talks: Japan top negotiator

The Japanese government does not expect the outcome of Sunday's upper house election to affect its tariff negotiations with the United States, the government's top negotiator has said.

"As we have placed top priority on protecting national interest, the election outcome will not have any particular impact on the negotiations," said Ryosei Akazawa, the top negotiator and economic revitalization minister.

Shortly after his comments, Japan's ruling coalition lost control of the upper house election. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito returned 47 seats, short of the 50 seats it needed to ensure a majority in the 248-seat upper chamber.

Speaking late on Sunday evening, Ishiba said he intended to stay on as prime minister, citing the "extremely critical tariff negotiation with the United States."

Akazawa is preparing to visit the United States early this week for an eighth round of trade talks, although he said Sunday that the detailed schedule "is still being arranged."

Ishiba has instructed Akazawa to vigorously continue the talks to strike a mutually acceptable deal, the top negotiator said.

Japan faces a deadline of August 1 to strike a trade deal with the United States or face 25 percent tariffs in its largest export market.

(With input from AFP) 

(Cover: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa visit the USA Pavilion during the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, July 19, 2025. /VCG)