On June 30, local time, US President Trump said in a social media post that although Japan is facing a serious shortage of rice, it is still unwilling to import US rice. Trump said he would send a letter to Japan. Japanese media say Trump is implying that he wants to notify Japan to raise tariffs. In response, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said on July 1 that he will not comment on every statement made by the US President or US officials, but Japan will not sacrifice the interests of the agricultural sector in trade negotiations with the US. However, Lin Fangzheng declined to reveal the details of the current Japan-US trade negotiations.

On June 30, local time, US President Trump said in a social media post that although Japan is facing a serious shortage of rice, it is still unwilling to import US rice. Trump said he would send a letter to Japan. Japanese media say Trump is implying that he wants to notify Japan to raise tariffs. In response, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said on July 1 that he will not comment on every statement made by the US President or US officials, but Japan will not sacrifice the interests of the agricultural sector in trade negotiations with the US. However, Lin Fangzheng declined to reveal the details of the current Japan-US trade negotiations.