White House spokesperson slams Japan for 700% rice tariff

Mar 12, 2025 | News On Japan

Mar 12, 2025 (NHK) - The White House press secretary has criticized Japan over a tariff it imposes on US rice imports.

During a briefing, Karoline Leavitt was telling reporters about levies on steel and aluminum imported from Canada.

She then took out a chart showing other countries.

Leavitt pointed to Japan, as well as the European Union and India. Japan's tariff rates on beef, dairy products, and rice from the US were shown as an example.

She said: "Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 percent. President Trump believes in reciprocity, and it is about dang time that we have a president who actually looks out for the interests of American businesses and workers. All he's asking for at the end of the day are fair and balanced trade practices."

Leavitt failed to mention that Japan has a mandatory tariff-free import quota for US rice. Imports outside this framework are subject to a levy of 341 yen, or roughly 2 dollars, per kilogram.

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