Trump Threatens Japan With Tariffs Over US Rice Exports

US President Donald Trump is threatening to increase tariffs on Japanese exports, claiming that Japan refuses to purchase US-grown rice despite experiencing a rice shortage. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticizes Japan's rice import practices and hints at sending official tariff notifications to trading partners, including Japan.

“They won’t take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage. In other words, we’ll just be sending them a letter, and we love having them as a Trading Partner for many years to come,” Trump says in a post on Truth Social.

However, trade data shows that Japan imported US$298 million in US rice last year and US$114 million between January and April 2025. While Japanese officials have not confirmed any intent to halt rice purchases, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi acknowledged the issue but withheld details, citing ongoing trade negotiations.

Trump's remarks may be referencing a 2021 USTR report that criticized Japan’s restrictive and opaque rice import system. Trump also recently hinted at reinstating paused “reciprocal” tariffs, with Japan possibly facing a 25% tariff on auto exports.

Negotiations remain active, with the tariff pause set to expire on July 9. If no agreement is reached, Japanese goods could face higher duties.