White House Accuses Japan of 700% Tariff on Rice, Sparking Controversy

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sparked controversy in Japan on Wednesday when she accused the country of imposing a 700% tariff on American rice. Leavitt used this example to illustrate what the U.S. government considers "egregious" duties levied by its trade partners.

"Look at Japan, tariffing rice 700%," Leavitt stated on Tuesday. "President (Donald) Trump believes in reciprocity, and it is about dang time that we have a president who actually looks out for the interest of American business and workers."

Leavitt's remarks came as she explained Washington's decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada. She presented a graph that displayed the Japanese tariff alongside other tariffs.

Leavitt's accusation drew criticism from Japan, with officials denying the existence of such a high tariff on American rice. They clarified that the actual tariff on rice imports from the United States is around 77.8%, which is still significantly high but far less than the 700% figure cited by Leavitt.

The discrepancy between Leavitt's statement and the actual tariff rate has raised questions about the accuracy of the information presented by the White House. It also highlights the ongoing tensions between the United States and its trading partners over tariffs and trade policies.