Trump warns ‘Mr Japan’ of steep tariffs ahead of July 9 deadline

President Donald Trump said he plans to send a letter to “Mr Japan” warning of renewed U.S. tariffs if no trade agreement is reached by July 9. Speaking to Fox News on July 1, Trump said: “I could send one to Japan: ‘Dear Mr Japan, here’s the story, you’re going to pay a 25 percent tariff on your cars.”

Negotiations between the two countries have stalled since April 2, when Trump imposed a 10% baseline tariff on Japanese goods along with higher reciprocal duties of 25% on autos and 24% on other products.

The administration paused these tariffs for 90 days to allow talks to continue. U.S. officials have since pressed Japan to open its rice market and accept continued auto tariffs. Japanese leaders have resisted, citing political sensitivities in agriculture and manufacturing ahead of national elections on July 20.

Ruling out any extension of the tariff pause, Trump said: “I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it,” he said. He warned that duties could climb to 30% or 35% depending on the outcome of negotiations. Trump also criticized Japan on Truth Social for refusing to accept American rice despite a domestic shortage

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that unless agreements are finalized by July 9, tariffs will revert to rates between 11% and 50%.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Trump’s comments “could be based on misunderstanding or misinformation. We hear President Trump say no U.S. cars are running in Japan and that we are not importing [U.S.] rice.” He pointed out that Japan has imported record volumes of American rice under tariff‑free quotas.

Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa, who also leads tariff talks, affirmed that Japan would not sacrifice farmers in trade negotiations, emphasizing that a 25% auto tariff “is not something we can accept.”