According to Nikkei, President Donald Trump's insistence on Japan increasing its purchase of American rice has created a significant obstacle in ongoing trade negotiations. Tokyo has strongly opposed this new demand.
Japan's chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, unexpectedly canceled his trip to the US this week due to "points requiring discussion at the administrative level," according to a government spokesperson.
The trip was intended to finalize details of a trade agreement reached last month, concerning the 15% tariffs the US imposes on Japanese goods. At the time, the White House announced Japan would increase its American rice purchases by 75%.
 |
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump at the White House, 2/2025. Photo: Reuters |
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump at the White House, 2/2025. Photo: Reuters
However, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated the trade agreement would not "sacrifice" Japan's agricultural sector. He suggested the proportion of American rice in Japan's total rice imports could increase within the existing duty-free framework.
Opposition leader Yuichiro Tamaki, on Saturday (30/8), questioned the government's competence and transparency in the negotiations. He argued the unexpected rice import issue highlights the risks of negotiating without a formal written agreement.
"Without a written agreement, we cannot identify the real problem," said Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People. He urged Prime Minister Ishiba to convene the National Diet for a full explanation, emphasizing that any new agricultural concessions would require parliamentary approval.
In an earlier attempt to appease Trump, Tokyo pledged a $550 billion investment package in the US through loans and guarantees backed by the Japanese government. However, details of this agreement remain unclear. Akazawa's trip was also meant to clarify these details. Japanese officials have repeatedly emphasized their desire for an executive order from President Trump removing overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods before any joint announcement about investment details.
Phien An (Reuters)
