By Megumi Fujikawa

TOKYO--Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his government will continue to seek exemption from U.S. tariffs and is mulling measures to protect smaller companies affected by the higher duties.

"We will continue to strongly urge Japan to be excluded" from tariffs announced by President Trump, Ishiba said at a news conference. "We will thoroughly examine the impact on domestic industries and employment and take all necessary measures," he added.

As an immediate step in case the Trump administration imposes higher tariffs as planned, the Japanese government will set up 1,000 consultation desks across the nation for small businesses affected by the U.S. move and also consider providing financial support to those companies, he said.

The Japanese prime minister said he would visit the U.S. and directly communicate with Trump if necessary.

An additional 25% tariff on cars is likely to have a significant impact on the Japanese economy because the auto industry has a broad base, affecting many sectors ranging from steel to information equipment.

Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 31, 2025 23:18 ET (03:18 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.