TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government said Friday it was "regrettable" that the United States has decided to impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners, including Japan, over their alleged failure to adequately ban the import of goods made with forced labor.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference that Tokyo and Washington's commitment to their bilateral trade agreement reached last year, including the lowering of tariffs on cars and auto parts, and its implementation remain unchanged.

The U.S. announcement on Thursday of up to 12.5 percent levies came ahead of the expiration of the 10 percent global tariff introduced in February shortly after the Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's sweeping "reciprocal duties."

Stressing that Japan's industrial and trade practices are "in accordance with international rules," Kihara, the top government spokesman, said, "We have confirmed that the United States will not impose any additional tariffs on Japan beyond last year's agreement."

"We will continue to maintain close communication with the U.S. side," Kihara said.

The agreement reached last July set the United States' "reciprocal tariff" on Japanese goods at 15 percent and sector-based duties on automobiles at the same rate in exchange for a $550 billion Japanese investment package.