WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Sept. 4 to impose new 15 percent tariffs on Japanese goods and enact other provisions of a previous trade agreement with Tokyo, which includes $550 billion in investment commitments in the United States.
The U.S.-Japan trade deal, agreed on July 22, sets a baseline 15 percent tariff on nearly all Japanese imports. The tariffs will be applied retroactively to shipments from Aug. 7.
The agreement includes separate sector-specific tariffs for key industries such as automobiles, aerospace products, pharmaceuticals, and certain natural resources, as outlined in the executive order.
The deal represents a significant win for Japan, lowering tariffs on Japanese automobiles—including models from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan—from 27.5 percent to 15 percent. Tariffs previously imposed on Japanese civil aircraft, excluding unmanned aircraft, will be removed. Additionally, certain Japanese products, including natural resources not available in the United States, generic pharmaceuticals, and essential pharmaceutical ingredients, may face no tariffs….