AS optimism grows that the United States and China are nearing a trade deal, Japan yesterday kicked off its own negotiations with Washington, hoping to resolve some of the issues “very quickly.”

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi embarked on two days of talks in Washington.

In Tokyo last week, Motegi predicted the crunch talks would be “candid,” with the first round yesterday about “making a decision on which areas we will discuss, chiefly in the field of goods.”

“I will do my best to have thorough discussions so as to produce a good result in line with our national interest,” said Motegi.

Self-styled dealmaker Donald Trump has been playing hardball with traditional U.S. trading partners, using tariffs and threats in an effort to boost U.S. exports and curb Washington’s longstanding trade deficit.

In May, Trump ordered his administration to investigate the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 25 percent on foreign autos and auto parts, a prospect that alarmed the industry and could have serious repercussions for Japan and Europe.

The U.S. president has frequently complained that Japan has an unfair advantage in bilateral trade and vowed to fix that.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Thursday he was seeking a “very quick agreement” with Japan on tariff cuts for agricultural goods. (SD-Agencies)