Trump targets Japan over rice trade, threatening new tariffs! Meanwhile, Japan’s bond market is melting down

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President Trump spoke out, saying Japan “won’t take our RICE.” He even suggested sending a letter about putting higher taxes on their goods. This is happening even though Japan actually needs rice and has been buying a lot from us. In 2024, Japan bought over $337 million worth of American rice. And this year, they are still buying. So, the President’s words seem to go against what the trade numbers show. This makes you wonder what the real game plan is behind such a public challenge.

Across the Pacific, Japan is already dealing with serious money problems on its own soil. While their general price increases are not wild, one everyday item is causing huge trouble: rice. The price of rice has shot up by an unbelievable 101% in just one year, as of May 2025. This massive jump in the cost of their main food is hurting families and shaping how everyone there feels about their money. People’s take-home pay is barely moving, making this rice price shock even harder to handle.