As trade negotiations get underway, a warning from Japan that they won't be easy.

Live from the BBC World Service, this is the Marketplace Morning Report.

I'm Luke Wilson in for Leanna Bern. Good morning.

Japan's trade delegation is currently in Washington for negotiations on a possible tariff steal,

with the world's fourth largest

economy facing levies of 24%. Donald Trump says big progress has been made, but the Japanese

Prime Minister was more guarded. Speaking from Tokyo, Shigeru Ashiba, said the talks were only

the first step. Of course, the discussions going forward won't be easy,

but President Trump has expressed his desire

to give the negotiations with Japan the highest priority.

I believe that this discussion has led to the next step,

and I appreciate this.

Our business reporter, Casey Silver, has been following the talks.

So we've seen the President meeting with Japan's Minister for Economic Revitalization,

Rosea Akazawa, along with a number of senior members from the Japanese team.

From the US side, all the big

names are there, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, and

Trade Representative Jamison Greer. In terms of what both sides are hoping to achieve,

so Japan currently has or is slated to have 24% so-called reciprocal tariffs placed on it.

So Japan and Tokyo is hopeful for a reduction in that, of course,

they're currently under this 90-day pause.

And they would be also hoping to negotiate some kind of exemption to the auto tariffs,

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