US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a "30% or 35%" tariff on Japan if a deal between the two countries is not reached before a deadline next week. That would be well above the 24% tariff Japan was hit with as part of Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" on 2 April, when he announced steep import duties on countries around the world. The tariffs on most trading partners were later lowered to 10% for 90 days to give them time to negotiate deals with Washington. That pause is due to expire on 9 July and Trump has said he is not thinking of extending the deadline. Trump also continued to cast doubt that an agreement could be reached with Tokyo. "We've dealt with Japan. I'm not sure we're going to make a deal. I doubt it," he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday. Japan's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. Like many other countries, most of Japan's exports to the US currently face a 10% levy. There is also a 25% import tax on Japanese vehicles and parts, while steel and aluminium are subject to a 50% tariff. Earlier on Tuesday Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he would not make concessions that could hurt his country's farmers to strike an agreement with Washington. The comments came after Trump criticised countries over their trade policies towards the US, focussing on Japanese rice imports. "To show people how spoiled Countries have become with respect to the United States of America, and I have great respect for Japan, they won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump originally said he would sign 90 trade agreements during the pause on the new tariffs but since then only the UK has struck a deal with the US.
Trump threatens Japan with tariff up to 35% as deadline looms
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Trump Threatens 30-35% Tariff on Japan Amid Trade Negotiation Deadline"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Japan, stating that he may impose a tariff of either 30% or 35% on Japanese goods if the two nations do not reach a trade agreement before an impending deadline next week. This potential increase in tariffs is significant, surpassing the current 24% tariff that Japan faced during Trump's 'Liberation Day' on April 2, when he announced sweeping import duties on various countries. While most tariffs were temporarily reduced to 10% for a 90-day negotiation period, this reprieve is set to expire on July 9, and Trump has expressed skepticism about extending this deadline. During a press conference aboard Air Force One, he conveyed his doubts about reaching a satisfactory deal with Japan, emphasizing that negotiations have been challenging and that he is not optimistic about the outcome. The Japanese embassy in Washington has yet to respond to these developments, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding US-Japan trade relations.
The current trade environment has seen Japan's exports facing a 10% levy, alongside a 25% import tax on Japanese vehicles and parts, while steel and aluminum products are subject to a steep 50% tariff. In response to Trump's criticisms regarding Japan's trade policies, particularly concerning rice imports, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that he would not compromise on agricultural interests that could negatively impact Japanese farmers. This assertion reflects Japan's cautious approach to negotiations, especially in light of Trump's recent remarks on social media, where he pointed out Japan's rice shortage while criticizing their import policies. Initially, Trump had aimed to finalize 90 trade agreements during the tariff pause, yet so far, only one agreement has been reached with the United Kingdom, indicating a lack of progress in his broader trade strategy with other nations, including Japan.
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