April 24, 2025
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in a meeting with the Japan Family Famers Movement (Nouminren) on April 23 expressed its willingness to not give in to pressure from the U.S. Trump administration.
Prior to the meeting with ministry officials, Nouminren petitioned Agriculture Minister Eto Taku to resist unfair pressure under Trump’s tariff policy and shift to an agriculture policy aimed at solving the rice shortage and the rising rice price.
In the meeting, Nouminren President Hasegawa Toshiro made a query concerning media reports that a plan to use an increase in U.S. rice imports as a tariff negotiation tool has emerged within the government.
A senior specialist of the ministry’s Exports and International Affairs Bureau in response said that Trump’s tariff measure is to fix the U.S. trade deficit, but in terms of agricultural products, the United States maintains a trade surplus. The ministry official showed an intent to resist the tariff pressure.
Prior to the meeting with ministry officials, Nouminren petitioned Agriculture Minister Eto Taku to resist unfair pressure under Trump’s tariff policy and shift to an agriculture policy aimed at solving the rice shortage and the rising rice price.
In the meeting, Nouminren President Hasegawa Toshiro made a query concerning media reports that a plan to use an increase in U.S. rice imports as a tariff negotiation tool has emerged within the government.
A senior specialist of the ministry’s Exports and International Affairs Bureau in response said that Trump’s tariff measure is to fix the U.S. trade deficit, but in terms of agricultural products, the United States maintains a trade surplus. The ministry official showed an intent to resist the tariff pressure.
