The national flags of Japan and the United States are seen in this file photo. (Mainichi)

       WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden said Friday it will start talks with Japan over tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a move that may lead to easing the duties that were imposed on imported items under his predecessor Donald Trump.

       "The United States and Japan will seek to resolve bilateral concerns in this area (of steel and aluminum)," the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said, just ahead of next week's visit by USTR Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to Japan.

       The move comes as the Biden administration is working to rebuild alliances that it believes have been undermined by Trump's four years of unilateralist "America First" foreign and trade policy.

       Frustrated with U.S. trade deficits, Trump imposed tariffs in 2018 on steel and aluminum imports from trade partners such as Japan, a close U.S. ally, and the European Union, citing potential national security risks.

       The Biden administration reached an agreement with the EU last month to end the Trump-era tariff rift, with the U.S. side allowing a certain quantity of European steel and aluminum to enter duty-free and the EU suspending retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products.

       Japan is apparently hoping to follow suit, with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda pressing for a "resolution" of the issue of steel and aluminum duties in phone talks with Raimondo earlier this month.

       The USTR office said the upcoming consultations with Japan will be aimed at addressing "global steel and aluminum excess capacity, take effective measures to ensure the long-term viability of our steel and aluminum industries, and find solutions to strengthen our democratic alliance."

       The United States has been concerned about the global overcapacity in steel and aluminum production, driven largely by China, the world's largest steel producer that is criticized for heavily subsidizing its industry.

       Noting that the "distortions" that result from excess capacity pose "a serious threat" to U.S. steel and aluminum industries, the USTR office said the United States and Japan, which are bound by their "historic alliance," share similar national security interests as "democratic, market economies."

       The consultations "present an opportunity to promote high standards, address shared concerns, including climate change, and hold countries like China that support trade-distorting non-market policies and practices to account," it said.

       Tai will arrive in Tokyo on Monday, while Raimondo will be making a two-day visit to Japan from the same day. Raimondo plans to hold talks with Hagiuda on Monday.

       The Trump-era tariffs, initiated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, led to additional duties of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

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