TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause his so-called reciprocal tariffs for 90 days is a "positive development," but it will continue to put pressure on its closest ally, Washington, to roll back other tariff measures.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to deploy all possible steps to curb the impact of the higher U.S. tariffs on Japan's export-oriented economy, as his government prepares to launch bilateral ministerial talks on the issue.

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of the negotiations, is arranging to visit the United States next week, a source close to him said.

Akazawa, a close aide to Ishiba, is expected to hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who serves as the point man for the negotiations with Japan, according to the source.

On Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference, "We have conveyed our concern and strongly asked (the United States) to review the tariff measures at various levels. We take the U.S. announcement as a positive development."

"That said, we will continue to strongly urge the United States to review the remaining reciprocal tariff, as well as other tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars and car parts," Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said.

A baseline tariff of 10 percent remains in place despite the 90-day pause announced by Trump on Wednesday, just hours after a 24 percent reciprocal duty on Japanese products entering the United States was implemented. The reprieve also applies to dozens of other nations that were hit with reciprocal tariffs like Japan.

At a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, a government advisory panel, Ishiba said, "It is extremely regrettable that the United States implemented the reciprocal tariff, despite part of it being paused for 90 days."

"We will continue to carry out all necessary support measures," he said.

While the reprieve gives financial markets some respite from recent massive sell-offs, economists warn that the spate of trade-restrictive steps taken by the United States could slow economic growth.

A plan to deliver a cash handout, worth between 30,000 yen ($206) and 50,000 yen, has emerged within the ruling coalition of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, the Komeito party.

Komeito chief Tetsuo Saito said Thursday that his party views tax cuts as a more effective way to cushion the blow to households, but he added cash handouts can be used as a "stopgap" measure because it takes time to implement a tax reduction.

Cash handouts are often offered in Japan to support households during difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But given that the country's fiscal health is the worst among advanced economies, such distributions can be seen as a classic example of pork-barrel politics. Japan is set to hold an election for the House of Councillors this summer.

Hayashi said the administration will continue to keep a close watch on financial markets and take "appropriate measures," following a recent market rout driven by concerns about slowing economic growth.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average marked its second-biggest point gain in history, rising over 2,800 points from its close on Wednesday, when the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Japan and the Financial Services Agency held a three-way meeting to discuss market volatility.

Japan's negotiator Akazawa serves as minister responsible for economic and fiscal policy as well as for the revitalization of local economies.