https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5381161-trump-japan-trade-deal-tariffs-rice/
resident Trump says Japan, which he characterized as “spoiled,” will likely not make a deal with the United States on a tariff rate ahead of the looming deadline next week.
“We dealt with Japan. I’m not sure if we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it with Japan — they’re very tough. You have to understand, they’re spoiled. I love Japan. I really like the new prime minister, too. Abe was one of my closest friends, as you know,” he said on Tuesday, referring to former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe who died in 2022.
The president hosted the current Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, at the White House in February.
Trump noted this week that Japan has a rice crisis that has elevated prices, arguing the country should turn to the U.S. for rice.
“But they and others are so spoiled from having ripped us off for 30, 40 years that it’s really hard for them to make a deal. You know, it’s very hard. As an example with Japan, they won’t take rice and yet they desperately need rice,” he said. “They won’t take any cars but they’ll sell millions. So, we told them, ‘Sorry you can’t do that.’”