Japan eases demand for US auto tariff repeal, proposes scaled reduction plan, Asahi reports

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan has eased its demand for a full repeal of the 25% U.S. auto tariff and is instead proposing a mechanism to reduce the rate based on how much countries contribute to the U.S. auto industry, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday. Japan's chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, is in Washington for a fifth round of talks with U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.