A group of Democratic lawmakers on Thursday urged President Barack Obama to insist on keeping a 2.5 percent tariff on Japanese autos and a 25 percent tariff on Japanese trucks if the United States and Japan enter into free trade talks.

"In an industry with razor-thin profit margins, the elimination of the 2.5 percent car tariff (as well as the 25 percent truck tariff) would be a major benefit to Japan without any gain for a vital American industry," the lawmakers said in a letter to Obama.