Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, have repeatedly called for an exemption from the tariffs, citing the country’s standing as the biggest investor in the US. Mr Ishiba also pledged to buy more US liquefied natural gas during a February summit with Mr Trump that appeared to go well.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says his government is making last ditch efforts to get U.S. President Donald Trump to exclude his country from an increase in auto tariffs due to take effect this week.

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