President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that he’s likely to impose tariffs on Japanese imports as high as 35% following a breakdown in trade talks, particularly about rice.
“What I’m going to do is I’ll write them a letter, say we thank you very much, we know you can’t do the kind of things that we need, and therefore, you’ll pay a 30%, 35% or whatever the numbers we determine,” Trump said, shortly after his trip to Florida’s new migrant detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” “It’s very unfair to the American people.”
The announcement came just one day after Trump lashed out at Japan over its refusal to import American-made rice, calling the country “spoiled.” Trump reiterated those complaints to reporters again on Tuesday.
“You have to understand they are very spoiled,” he said. “I love Japan, I really like the new prime minister, he’s a very strong guy, but they and others are so spoiled from having ripped us off for 30, 40 years. It’s really hard for them to make a deal.”
While Japan is currently undergoing a severe rice shortage, something officials have attributed to “structural problems” within the government, the country has historically had strong protectionist trade policies. Rice, for example, faces import tariffs of around 778% in Japan.
Nevertheless, Trump reiterated his frustration with Japan refusing to import American rice, as well as their refusal to import American vehicles, which, while having no import tariffs imposed on them, are largely counter to Japan’s market preferences.
“As an example, they won’t take rice – they desperately need rice, but they won’t take rice,” Trump said. “Or the cars, they send out billions, we didn’t give them one car in ten years, they won’t take any cars, but they’ll sell millions.”
Watch the clip below or at this link.
Trump on trade deals: "I'll be writing letters to a lot of countries. We've dealt with Japan. I'm not sure we're gonna make a deal. I doubt it with Japan. They're very tough. You have to understand they are very spoiled ... they won't take rice." pic.twitter.com/NkH9N81Dlb
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 1, 2025