Japan’s trade minister, Yoji Muto, met with members of the Trump administration in an effort to secure an exemption from President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs but received no such reassurances.

Muto argued before Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer, and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett that because Japan heavily invests in the U.S. economy, it should be exempt from the 25% tariff on aluminum and steel set to be implemented on Wednesday.