TOKYO, July 17 (Reuters) - Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on U.S. tariffs on Thursday, as Tokyo races to avert a 25% levy that will be imposed unless a deal is clinched by an August 1 deadline.

TOKYO: A mutually beneficial U.S.-Japan tariff agreement is still possible, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday (Jul 18) after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo. "A good deal is more important than a rushed deal,

The US treasury secretary said that a trade deal with Japan remained possible, following talks in Tokyo ahead of the looming August 1 imposition of new tariffs.