Japan's trade deal with US guarantees lowest tariff rates for chips, pharma

TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) - Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Tuesday the trade agreement with the U.S. guaranteed Japan would always get the lowest tariff rate on chips and pharmaceuticals out of all the pacts negotiated by Washington.

"If a third country agrees with the United States on lower rates on chips and pharmaceuticals, the same rates would be applied to Japan," he told a news conference.