Feb 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto

plans to visit the United States in March and ask the Trump

administration to exempt Japan from upcoming tariffs on steel

and cars, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday.

Muto is arranging meetings with newly confirmed U.S.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright

and other top officials also to discuss Japan's plans to buy

more American gas and Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) stranded bid to

acquire U.S. Steel, according to the report.

Muto aims to visit by March 12 when the 25% tariffs on U.S.

imports of steel and aluminum will take effect, but the schedule

is fluid depending on Japanese parliament budget sessions, Asahi

reported, citing multiple unnamed government sources.