Tokyo, July 1 -- Japan has refused to sacrifice 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 today.
"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% U.S.-imposed tariff on automobiles and auto...