Novice Japan Negotiator Seeks to Strike First Deal With Trump

When the US and Japan open trade talks on Wednesday, the world will be closely watching Ryosei Akazawa to provide a glimpse of what a deal with President Donald Trump might look like.

Japan’s economic revitalization minister, who described his appointment as US trade negotiator as “nerve-wracking,” will look to iron out the first agreement with a nation since Trump hit around 60 trade partners with sweeping tariffs. As markets swooned, the US leader announced a 90-day pause for Japan and other nations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who’s leading talks for the US, has said Japan is likely to ...