Japan Trade Envoy Cancels U.S. Trip Over Trump’s Rice Demands

Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, abruptly canceled a trip to Washington after failing to bridge differences with the US over rice imports, Gareth Allan reported for Bloomberg News.

Japanese officials criticized the move on rice imports as “interference in domestic affairs.” (Photo: The White House Flickr)

Tokyo officials objected to a draft presidential order that would compel Japan to boost purchases of US rice and cut tariffs on agricultural goods, Nikkei Asia reported.

Japanese officials criticized the move as “interference in domestic affairs,” according to Reuters and the Associated Press (AP). Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged that US rice imports might rise under existing tariff-free quotas but insisted the agreement “does not sacrifice Japanese agriculture.”