AsianFin — Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa will travel to Washington on Tuesday to urge the U.S. administration to expedite the implementation of a recently agreed reduction in tariffs on Japanese automobiles, pressing for President Donald Trump to sign an executive order enacting the deal.

The U.S. and Japan reached a trade agreement last month under which Washington pledged to lower tariffs on Japanese car imports to 15%, down from a cumulative 27.5% previously. The deal also includes tariff reductions on other Japanese exports, with duties set to fall to 15% from 25%.

Akazawa’s visit underscores Tokyo’s urgency in ensuring the tariff cuts are swiftly formalized, as Japanese automakers seek relief from years of elevated duties amid intensifying global trade tensions.