Trade minister Hiroshige Seko said Saturday that he has asked that Japan be exempted from U.S. President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs.

"Japanese exports of steel and aluminum have no impact on U.S. national security, and contribute greatly to U.S. employment and economic growth," Seko said at a news conference after meeting in Brussels with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

He said Lighthizer did not give a specific answer to the request but explained the timeline and procedures for the tariffs.