Trade negotiations between Japan and the United States are headed for an impasse with the two sides unable even to settle on a starting point for an agreement after two rounds of high-level discussions.

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's tariff czar, said on Saturday negotiations won¡¯t go forward without the tariffs already in place being included in the current talks.

This would include the 25% duties on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum products and the 10% duties on most other imports.