Japan Insists Farm Protections Stay Intact in Talks With U.S.

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Published Jul 1, 2025, 02:29 AM

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo will not accept trade terms that harm its farming industry as it negotiates a bilateral deal with the United States. “Japan won’t do anything to sacrifice the agriculture sector,” Hayashi told reporters on Tuesday, underscoring the political sensitivity of rice, beef and other staple products ahead of this summer’s parliamentary session.

Hayashi’s comments follow a social-media post by U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Japan’s rice-import policies. Agriculture Minister Tetsuro Koizumi declined to respond directly to the president’s remarks but reiterated that any talks would have to respect existing protections for domestic producers. The statements suggest limited room for concessions in a sector that has stalled past trade rounds, potentially complicating Washington’s push for greater market access.

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