By Michael Vadon - Wikipedia
US President Donald Trump has warned that he may impose a punitive tariff of “30% or 35%” on Japanese imports if a bilateral trade agreement is not finalized before next week’s looming deadline.
The proposed tariff hike would significantly exceed the 24% rate Japan faced during Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” on April 2, when he announced sweeping tariffs on a wide range of countries. Those tariffs were subsequently reduced to 10% for 90 days to allow time for negotiations with US trading partners, including Japan.
That temporary reprieve is set to expire on July 9, and Trump has made it clear he does not intend to extend the deadline. He also expressed skepticism over the chances of securing a deal with Tokyo.
“We’ve dealt with Japan. I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it,” Trump told reporters while aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
In response, Japanese officials remained tight-lipped. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki declined to address Trump’s remarks directly during a news conference on Wednesday.
“We are aware of what President Trump said, but we don’t comment on every remark made by US government officials,” Aoki stated.
Currently, most Japanese exports to the US are subject to a 10% tariff, a rate shared by several other American trading partners. Additionally, Japanese vehicles and auto parts face a 25% import tax, while steel and aluminum shipments from Japan are taxed at a steep 50%.
Despite mounting pressure, Japan has signaled it will not compromise on certain issues. On Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi ruled out any concessions that could harm Japan’s agricultural sector in pursuit of a deal with Washington.
Hayashi’s comments followed Trump’s renewed criticism of international trade practices, with a particular focus on Japanese restrictions on 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,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
At the outset of the tariff pause, Trump pledged to sign 90 trade agreements within the 90-day window. However, to date, the United Kingdom remains the only country to have successfully finalized a trade deal with the US under that initiative.
