Tokyo, April 8 -- Japanese Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Ryosei Akazawa has been appointed as trade negotiator with the US on tariff issues, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said on April 8.

The appointment came hours after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump agreed in their phone talks on April 7 to continue bilateral tariff negotiations through their ministers.

Ishiba is considering another visit to the US for discussions with US President Trump "at the most appropriate timing", with progress in ministerial-level talks being a key consideration, Hayashi said.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was assigned to lead trade talks wit...