WASHINGTON—The United States said on Friday it will open talks with Japan that could lead to an easing of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a longstanding irritant in trade relations between the two allies. The U.S. Commerce Department and the United States Trade Representative’s Office said the talks were aimed at addressing “global steel and aluminum excess capacity,” restoring market-oriented conditions and preserving critical industries. The discussions with Japan follow an agreement by the United States and the European Union to end a dispute over steel and aluminum tariffs, and hammer out a global arrangement to combat “dirty” production and overcapacity in the industry. The future agreement, which is open to other countries, will pose a challenge for China, which produces over half of the world’s steel and which the EU and United States accuse of creating overcapacity that harms their own industries. Last year, the Global Forum on …