Last month, the U.S. auto industry got the news it had been waiting for.

The White House triumphantly announced new tariff deals with Japan and the European Union. Japan and Mexico import the most vehicles into the U.S., and Germany isn't far behind.

The U.S. said it would lower auto tariffs on Japan to 15% from 27.5%.

Related: Latest tariff deals leave US automakers in a tough position

Japan has been clear that the auto sector is its top priority in negotiations.

"There's no point striking a deal with the U.S. without an agreement on automobile tariffs," Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's lead trade negotiator, said last month.

According to one estimate , Japan exported $40.76 billion worth of cars to the U.S. in 2024, representing nearly 19% of all auto imports.

But while the announcement

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