TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - Japan is considering using the

purchase of U.S. defence equipment as a bargaining chip in

tariff talks, its top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on

Thursday as he heads for a fourth round of the negotiations in

Washington this week.

The defence equipment purchase would be among a package of

proposals to gain U.S. concessions, which also include technical

cooperation in shipbuilding, revision to inspection standards

for imported automobiles and increased imports of U.S. farm

products.

"Japan's purchase of defence equipment would contribute to

the U.S. trade surplus, so in that sense, it could be considered

(in the trade talks)," Akazawa told reporters.

Akazawa will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

on Friday in the fourth round of trade talks in Washington, as

Japan faces a 24% tariff rate starting in July unless it can

negotiate a deal with the U.S.

Japan and the U.S. have agreed to deepen the trade

discussions with the G7 leaders' summit on June 15-17 in mind,

where U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister

Shigeru Ishiba are set to meet in person.

A source familiar with the talks said a U.S. trade court's

ruling to block Trump's sweeping tariffs would not change

Japan's strategies in the trade talks.

Japan wants to eliminate not just "reciprocal" tariffs but

also industry-specific tariffs on automobiles, said the source,

who declined to be identified as the matter is private.

Speaking to reporters on the potential defence equipment

purchase, Akazawa did not specify which equipment Japan is

considering buying. Japanese media reported that Trump pitched

the F-47 and other fighter jets in a phone call with Ishiba last

week.

Meanwhile, a Japanese government spokesperson denied a

report by the Asahi Shimbun that the government has started

considering increasing its share of costs for U.S. troops

stationed in Japan.

The budget for the costs of stationing U.S. troops "has been

shared appropriately," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi

told a regular press conference.

Similarly, Akazawa said national security and tariff deals

should be separated as they are different matters.

($1 = 145.3300 yen)