The government of Japan expressed regret on Friday after being included on a new list of foreign trading partners subject to updated United States import tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated during a press briefing that Japanese commercial activities strictly adhere to established international rules.
He added that Tokyo regrets the decision to impose the levies based on claims of forced labour import bans.
The measures affect 60 trading nations and replace a previous global duty framework introduced by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
That earlier framework faced a legal setback in February when the US Supreme Court struck down several tariff lines, leading the administration to use alternative legal powers to enact temporary 10 per cent duties.
Under the new policy released by Washington on Thursday, nations that have enacted or pledged to enact formal prohibitions on forced labour imports qualify for a lower 10 per cent rate.
Countries receiving the lower tier include Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and member states of the European Union.
However, the higher 12.5 per cent tariff rate applies to Japan, China, South Korea, and several dozen other nations.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara emphasised that both Tokyo and Washington remain bound by a bilateral trade framework established last year.
Under that arrangement, Japanese firms pledged to invest 550 billion dollars in the American economy by 2029 in exchange for reduced maximum tariff threats.
The government spokesman confirmed that American officials assured Tokyo that no additional duties exceeding the bilateral agreement would be applied.
Japanese trade representatives will continue working closely with US counterparts to manage the economic impact of the new regulations
