U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Japan on Monday for allegedly refusing to import American-grown rice, threatening to halt trade talks unless an agreement is reached. The remarks come despite U.S. Census Bureau data showing Japan imported at least $298 million worth of U.S. rice in 2024.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed, “They won’t take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage,” accusing Japan of taking advantage of American trade generosity. He suggested that the U.S. may “just be sending them a letter,” a reference to his plan to impose country-specific tariff rates if no trade deal is reached by the July 9 deadline.
According to CNN, Trump’s criticism targets Japan’s heavily regulated rice import system, which the Biden administration also criticized for limiting meaningful U.S. market access. While Japan does import U.S. rice, analysts say restrictive quotas and complex regulations make it difficult for American exporters to compete effectively in the Japanese market.
Trade negotiations between Washington and Tokyo have reportedly stalled in recent weeks. Japan has pushed to be exempt from U.S. tariffs, especially on automobiles—one of its key exports. Trump recently stated that Japanese carmakers could face up to a 25% tariff under his proposed “reciprocal” trade policy, with a minimum rate of 24%.
Ironically, Japan is currently grappling with a domestic rice shortage that has driven prices to multi-year highs, fueling increased imports. Trade data shows the U.S. was a major rice supplier to Japan in May.
Trump’s latest comments highlight escalating tensions between two of the world’s largest economies and raise uncertainty around the future of U.S.-Japan trade relations.