Tokyo and Washington are stepping up diplomatic engagement amid rising trade tension, with leaders signaling efforts to keep dialogue open.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that President Trump's reciprocal tariffs will take effect later this week, suggesting they aren't open to negotiation after the announcement sent shockwaves through the investment world and sparked recession fears.

President Donald Trump’s commerce secretary had to step in after he appeared lost on the latest development in his sprawling trade war. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump announced that the administration would be sending out about a dozen letters throughout the week warning other countries that tariffs will be reinstated if they don’t close a trade deal soon.

Japan's government said its top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, held a 45-minute phone call with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on U.S. tariffs on Thursday.

President Donald Trump’s country-by-country tariffs will take effect Aug. 1, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, signaling some breathing room for US trading partners ahead of a July 9 deadline previously set by the president.

With just a couple of days to go before the July 9 deadline for the resumption of the “Liberation Day” tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, comments by White House officials suggested that there could be further relief.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said some trade deals had been made with trading partners and letters would go out to other countries notifying them of higher tariff rates. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters that the higher tariffs would take effect on August 1,

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joins CNBC's "Power Lunch" team to discuss recent tariff negotiations, trade policy and more.