Japan’s Akazawa Canceled US Trip Over Rice, Nikkei Says

Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa abruptly canceled his trip to Washington on Thursday because there remains a gap between the two sides on the issue of rice, Nikkei reported.

Japanese officials are unhappy that a US presidential order would include plans for Japan to increase purchases of American rice and a reduction of tariffs on agricultural products, the report said Friday. Japan objects to the order that would be sent to US government agencies as some points have not been resolved, Nikkei said, citing unidentified Japanese officials.