April 25, 2025
Ministry of Finance
Japan-U.S. Finance Ministerial Meeting (April 24, 2025)
On April 24, from 15:00 till 15:50 [EST], Minister of Finance, and Minister of State for Financial Services, Japan, Kato Katsunobu held the first in-person Ministerial meeting with the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Scott Bessent in Washington, D.C.
The Minister stated that the series of the tariff measures by the United States are extremely regrettable, and strongly urged a reconsideration of these measures. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. The Secretary and the Minister had productive discussions on a range of bilateral issues.
2. On foreign exchange issues, they reaffirmed the points, including that exchange rates are market determined and that excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability.
3. In relation to the ongoing U.S.-Japan trade negotiations, they confirmed that they will continue to consult closely and constructively on foreign exchange issues.
