A demand from Washington for Japan to purchase more American rice has created fresh tensions in bilateral trade talks, as Tokyo strongly opposed the condition, calling it interference in domestic matters.
Japan’s top tariff negotiator abruptly cancelled a planned US visit this week, citing unresolved issues that required discussion at the administrative level, as both sides struggled to finalize details of their July trade deal.
Reports suggest that a revised order from President Donald Trump included Japan’s commitment to boost American rice imports, a move Japanese officials criticized sharply, insisting it violated earlier understandings on agricultural trade.
Tokyo stressed that the demand directly contradicted the July agreement, which outlined a reduced 15% tariff on US imports without forcing Japan to lower agricultural tariffs or expand rice purchases.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba explained that while Japan could increase US rice imports within an existing tariff-free framework, the government had ensured that Japanese farmers would not face harmful sacrifices.
Meanwhile, Economic Policy Minister Ryosei Akazawa postponed his scheduled US trip, which was expected to finalize Japan’s approval of a $550 billion investment package through government-backed loans and guarantees still under negotiation.