Overview

• Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa reiterated on July 1 that Japan will not trade away its farm protections in talks with the United States.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba introduced a rice policy that guarantees stable incomes for producers and encourages higher domestic output.
• Finance Ministry data show Japan’s tariff-free rice tender on June 27 attracted bids for 81,853 tonnes, nearly triple the offered volume.
• U.S. Census Bureau and finance ministry figures confirm record American rice imports into Japan despite Tokyo’s quotas and tariffs.
• The reciprocal 24 percent duties on Japanese goods remain paused until July 9 while Washington presses for auto tariff relief and President Trump threatens higher levies over rice purchases.