Ishiba Disputes Trump's Rice Claim, Vows to Support Domestic Production

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Japan is not importing U.S. rice, stating that this misconception needs to be rectified. His remarks followed a previous statement where he suggested Trump might be misinformed about Japan's import of rice and automobiles from the United States.

Ishiba, who leads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, emphasized that his government would not compromise national interests to reach a tariff agreement with the United States. He highlighted that Japan has been importing rice from California and stressed the importance of the U.S. understanding this point.

The Japan-U.S. ministerial talks regarding tariffs seem to have encountered difficulties, with Trump recently expressing concerns about trade with Japan. Trump had stated that Japan does not import U.S. rice despite a significant rice shortage. He has also threatened to increase tariffs on imports from Japan.

Ishiba and Trump did not reach an agreement during their mid-June summit. Ishiba has maintained that Japan is not in a rush to finalize a deal. He has also stated that the bilateral talks have been progressing steadily, though he did not specify how close the allies are to a potential agreement.

Rising rice prices, largely due to a poor harvest, have become a significant issue for political parties ahead of the upcoming election. Opposition leaders have criticized the government's response. Recent data indicates that rice prices have begun to decline, partly due to the government selling rice from its emergency reserves.

In the lead-up to the election, Ishiba has pledged to increase domestic rice production, a shift from Japan's long-standing policy of controlling overall output. He stated that Japan, as an independent nation, cannot allow rice cultivation to decline due to increased imports.