Japan is taking a nonconfrontational approach with the U.S. on tariffs ahead of top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa’s visit to Washington later this week, aiming to keep negotiation channels open with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Questioned in parliament Monday over his government’s response to the tariffs, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba again ruled out imposing retaliatory measures for now, arguing that escalation would not serve the country’s national interest.

Similarly, Ishiba voiced his reluctance on filing the case with the World Trade Organization (WTO), opting instead to prioritize bilateral negotiations with the U.S. While countries including Canada and China have shown a more muscular stance, Japan — which had long hoped for an ad-hoc exemption from the tariffs — has chosen a more measured response.

At this stage, Ishiba is determined to make the most out of Japan’s “priority” accorded by the U.S. — in the words of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — in the negotiations, and is refraining from rushing into a hurried deal.

“I am not of the view that we should conclude negotiations as quickly as possible,” Ishiba said. “I believe it’s important for both countries to build a new kind of relationship as true allies and to consider together what we can do for the world going forward.

“We should make an effort so that President Trump would be inclined to listen to what Japan has to say," he said.

Akazawa echoed Ishiba's sentiments in a Lower House Budget Committee session, saying that given the recent reversals, Tokyo needs to assess what kind of approach will be most effective in the negotiations.

The U.S. began imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum products in March, with further levies on cars and auto parts set to go into effect next month. Earlier this month, Trump announced additional tariffs on imports, with a 10% baseline and a 24% rate for Japan — before ordering a 90-day pause on the latter.

While the government has repeatedly stated that the fresh tariffs contravene the Japan-U.S. trade agreement signed in October 2019, Akazawa evaded questions Monday on how he intends to broach the topic in his upcoming negotiations with Bessent.

Amid what Ishiba has described as a “national crisis,” opposition parties questioning him in parliament adopted a conciliatory stance toward the government, and avoided any direct condemnation of the prime minister’s moves.

Speaking to reporters after questioning Ishiba, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yoshihiko Noda said parties should refrain from politicizing the issue.

“I believe this is not a matter of ruling party versus opposition,” he said. “All parties must share a sense of urgency, and we too, intend to put forward our own proposals.”