On April 19, the Yomiuri (Japan) reported that the country is considering buying more soybeans and rice from the US, in order to increase its position in tariff negotiations.
On April 16, the US and Japan held bilateral negotiations on import tariffs in the US. Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
According to the Yomiuri, during this meeting, the US side raised the issue of automobiles and rice, claiming that Tokyo had erected barriers in these areas. Washington criticized Japan's rice distribution system and export regulations as being strict and lacking transparency. The US also called on Japan to increase imports of other agricultural products, such as meat, seafood, and potatoes.
The US has also expressed concerns about Japan's auto safety regulations, which it says are unfair. The issues raised by Washington were outlined in the annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers released by the Office of the US Trade Representative in early April.
Japan is therefore considering buying more soybeans and rice from the US to strengthen its negotiating position. Tokyo's goal is to be exempted from the tariffs. Even before the US imposed import tariffs, Japan had increased its rice purchases over the past year as domestic prices soared due to supply shortages.
Like other US trading partners, Japan is currently enjoying a 90-day reprieve from the imposition of a 24% reciprocal tariff. However, the overall 10% tariff remains in place, along with a 25% tariff on cars, its main export.
US President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at the meeting on April 16. He wrote on the social network Truth Social that the talks "made great progress." Trump had previously criticized Japan for imposing a 700% import tariff on rice. However, Tokyo said the figure was calculated based on old data on international rice prices.
The next round of talks between the two countries is scheduled for later this month. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato also plans to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the sidelines of international conferences in Washington next week.