Japan says not to sacrifice agriculture amid U.S. rice import pressure

TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Japan has no intention of sacrificing its agricultural sector in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent demand that Japan import more American rice, the country's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stressed Tuesday.

"We have no intention of making compromises that would harm Japanese agriculture in future negotiations," Nikkei cited Hayashi as saying at a press conference.

The remarks following Trump's message on his social media platform, claiming that Japan is facing a major rice shortage but refuses to accept U.S. rice, which is seen as an attempt to pressure Japan to expand rice imports amid ongoing Japan-U.S. tariff discussions.

Japan currently faces a 25-percent U.S.-imposed tariff on automobiles and auto parts, and a 50-percent tariff on steel and aluminum. Despite prior ministerial rounds of negotiations, little progress had been made.

Hayashi emphasized that Japan will continue "sincere and constructive negotiations" with the United States to achieve an agreement that benefits both sides.■