Donald Trump said there was "big progress" after directly participating in the trade negotiations with a Japanese delegation in Washington, even as both sides made little headway other than an agreement to meet again.
Japan, which was hit by a 24 per cent blankettariff along with an existing 25 per cent duty on automobiles during Mr Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement, was one of the first countries to formally kick off negotiations, an early test of Washington's willingness to cede ground on the duties.
