Australia news LIVE: Anthony Albanese brushes off claims Trump insulted him; RBA expected to slash rates; Trump to host Netanyahu for talks next Monday as US presses for Gaza ceasefire
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12.13pm
Dozens reportedly killed in strike on Gaza cafe as Netanyahu agrees to meet Trump
By Michael Koziol
Israeli forces killed at least 74 people in Gaza overnight, with airstrikes and gunfire that left multiple dead at a seaside cafe as Palestinians attempted to reach aid, witnesses and health officials said.
One airstrike hit a seaside cafe in Gaza City crowded with women and children, Ali Abu Ateila, who was inside Al-Baqa Cafe, said. 'Without a warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,' he told the Associated Press.
Dozens were wounded, many critically, and 30 people were killed, the head of the Health Ministry's emergency and ambulance service in northern Gaza, Fares Awad, said.
It was one of only a few businesses to continue operating during the 20-month war in Gaza and was a gathering spot for residents seeking internet access and a place to charge their phones. Videos circulating on social media showed bloodied and disfigured bodies on the ground and the wounded being carried away in blankets.
Israeli forces also killed 11 people who had been seeking food in southern Gaza, according to witnesses, hospitals, and Gaza's Health Ministry.
It comes before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns to Washington next week to meet with US President Donald Trump under the weight of heavy expectation for a new ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump, having helped broker a truce between Israel and Iran last week after the US bombed key Iranian nuclear facilities, has made clear that ending hostilities in the wartorn Palestinian territory is his next priority.
11.49am
Trump signs executive order ending US sanctions on Syria
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ending many US economic sanctions on Syria, following through on a promise he made to the country's new interim leader.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was designed to 'promote and support the country's path to stability and peace.'
'This is another promise made and promise kept,' she said.
The executive order is meant to 'end the country's isolation from the international financial system, setting the stage for global commerce and galvanising investments from its neighbours in the region, as well as from the United States,' Treasury's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brad Smith, told reporters on Monday (Tuesday AEST) to preview the administration's action.
Monday's actions do not rescind sanctions imposed on ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad, his top aides, family members and officials who had been determined to have committed human rights abuses or been involved in drug trafficking or part of Syria's chemical weapons program.
It also leaves intact a major set of sanctions passed by the US Congress targeting anyone doing business with or offering support to Syria's military, intelligence or other suspect institutions. While the Trump administration has passed temporary waivers on those sanctions, they can only be permanently repealed by law.
Along with the lifting of economic sanctions, Monday's executive order lifts the national emergency outlined in an executive order issued by former US President George W. Bush in response to Syria's occupation of Lebanon and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, Treasury officials said. Five other previous executive orders related to Syria were also lifted.
Sanctions targeting terrorist groups and manufacturers and sellers of the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon will remain in place.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Trump suggests DOGE look at Musk's firms to save money
US President Donald Trump has suggested his efficiency department should take a look at the subsidies that Tesla CEO Elon Musk's companies have received in order to save the federal government "BIG" money. Trump's comments come after billionaire Elon Musk renewed his criticism on Monday of Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, vowing to unseat lawmakers who backed it after campaigning on limiting government spending. "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In response to Trump's post, Musk, in his own social media platform X, said: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now." After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the legislation, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it "utterly insane and destructive" in a post on social media platform X. On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill "should hang their heads in shame!" "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk said. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill's massive spending indicated "that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," he wrote. Musk's criticism of the bill has caused a rift in his relationship with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $US300 million ($A457 million) on Trump's re-election campaign and led the administration's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative. Musk, the world's richest man, has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE. It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill's passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. The rift has also led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased about $US150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered. US President Donald Trump has suggested his efficiency department should take a look at the subsidies that Tesla CEO Elon Musk's companies have received in order to save the federal government "BIG" money. Trump's comments come after billionaire Elon Musk renewed his criticism on Monday of Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, vowing to unseat lawmakers who backed it after campaigning on limiting government spending. "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In response to Trump's post, Musk, in his own social media platform X, said: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now." After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the legislation, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it "utterly insane and destructive" in a post on social media platform X. On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill "should hang their heads in shame!" "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk said. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill's massive spending indicated "that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," he wrote. Musk's criticism of the bill has caused a rift in his relationship with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $US300 million ($A457 million) on Trump's re-election campaign and led the administration's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative. Musk, the world's richest man, has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE. It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill's passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. The rift has also led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased about $US150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered. US President Donald Trump has suggested his efficiency department should take a look at the subsidies that Tesla CEO Elon Musk's companies have received in order to save the federal government "BIG" money. Trump's comments come after billionaire Elon Musk renewed his criticism on Monday of Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, vowing to unseat lawmakers who backed it after campaigning on limiting government spending. "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In response to Trump's post, Musk, in his own social media platform X, said: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now." After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the legislation, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it "utterly insane and destructive" in a post on social media platform X. On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill "should hang their heads in shame!" "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk said. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill's massive spending indicated "that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," he wrote. Musk's criticism of the bill has caused a rift in his relationship with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $US300 million ($A457 million) on Trump's re-election campaign and led the administration's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative. Musk, the world's richest man, has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE. It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill's passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. The rift has also led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased about $US150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered. US President Donald Trump has suggested his efficiency department should take a look at the subsidies that Tesla CEO Elon Musk's companies have received in order to save the federal government "BIG" money. Trump's comments come after billionaire Elon Musk renewed his criticism on Monday of Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, vowing to unseat lawmakers who backed it after campaigning on limiting government spending. "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In response to Trump's post, Musk, in his own social media platform X, said: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now." After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the legislation, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it "utterly insane and destructive" in a post on social media platform X. On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill "should hang their heads in shame!" "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk said. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill's massive spending indicated "that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," he wrote. Musk's criticism of the bill has caused a rift in his relationship with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $US300 million ($A457 million) on Trump's re-election campaign and led the administration's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative. Musk, the world's richest man, has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE. It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill's passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. The rift has also led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased about $US150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Australia's US tariff fixation 'missing bigger picture'
Australia has been urged to zoom out on its approach to the US relationship, instead of honing in on the nitty-gritty of tariffs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces growing pressure to organise a face-to-face with US President Donald Trump after their scheduled June meeting was scuppered by events in the Middle East. With Mr Trump's tariffs continuing to dominate global economic discussions, the prime minister has hinted at ways his government could negotiate a carve-out. But United States Studies Centre research director Jared Mondschein said Australia should take a more long-term view on the US as trying to predict the Trump administration was "a bit of a fool's errand". "Instead of focusing - in my view - too myopically on the tariff side, I encourage the Australian government to focus instead on the broader conversation," he told AAP. "(Tariffs are) something unique to this administration, I can't imagine other administrations doing it similarly. "There's a lot of opportunity where Australia has more influence." Security, supply chains, space co-operation and critical minerals were all areas in which Australia could bolster ties to the US for years beyond Mr Trump's second term, Mr Mondschein said. Washington had shown a particular eagerness to get its hands on critical minerals as China had previously used its hold on rare earths to gain economic leverage. Mr Mondschein noted Beijing blocked exports to Japan in 2010, but in the 15 years since there had been "more rhetoric than substantive gains in any sort of calibrated response". "It's all the more important for allies and partners to start getting their act together," he said. Resources Minister Madeleine King on Tuesday said Australia would continue working with the US to invest in critical minerals to ensure the nation could become a "robust" part of the global supply chain, capitalising on its geological and geographical advantages. Mr Albanese was expected to meet the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in mid-June but Mr Trump left the event the night before their scheduled conversation to deal with escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The coalition has continued to pressure the prime minister over the relationship with Australia's key ally, with opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor saying the prime minister "has never had any great love for the US alliance". While Mr Albanese wasn't the only world leader to be stood up by the Republican president, the relative insignificance of Australia as a US trading partner has been raised as one obstacle to getting a rescheduled meeting. But Mr Mondschein did not believe missing a bilateral meeting was an existential challenge as Australia's relationship with the US had never been so consequential. The prime minister said Australia was an important ally for the US as it helped deliver peace and security in the Pacific region, and provided goods and services to the world, making it a significant economy. "Australia always pulls our weight," he said. Mr Albanese added he understood the president's decision to leave the G7, a move that eventually led to a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The G20 leaders meeting in November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in June and the Quad meeting - which will occur some time in the year - all offer a second chance for the two to get together. Foreign Minister Penny Wong landed in the US capital Washington on Tuesday, Australian time, as Canberra tries to broker an exemption from America's 50 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports and 10 per cent levies on other goods. She is set to attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan. Australia has been urged to zoom out on its approach to the US relationship, instead of honing in on the nitty-gritty of tariffs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces growing pressure to organise a face-to-face with US President Donald Trump after their scheduled June meeting was scuppered by events in the Middle East. With Mr Trump's tariffs continuing to dominate global economic discussions, the prime minister has hinted at ways his government could negotiate a carve-out. But United States Studies Centre research director Jared Mondschein said Australia should take a more long-term view on the US as trying to predict the Trump administration was "a bit of a fool's errand". "Instead of focusing - in my view - too myopically on the tariff side, I encourage the Australian government to focus instead on the broader conversation," he told AAP. "(Tariffs are) something unique to this administration, I can't imagine other administrations doing it similarly. "There's a lot of opportunity where Australia has more influence." Security, supply chains, space co-operation and critical minerals were all areas in which Australia could bolster ties to the US for years beyond Mr Trump's second term, Mr Mondschein said. Washington had shown a particular eagerness to get its hands on critical minerals as China had previously used its hold on rare earths to gain economic leverage. Mr Mondschein noted Beijing blocked exports to Japan in 2010, but in the 15 years since there had been "more rhetoric than substantive gains in any sort of calibrated response". "It's all the more important for allies and partners to start getting their act together," he said. Resources Minister Madeleine King on Tuesday said Australia would continue working with the US to invest in critical minerals to ensure the nation could become a "robust" part of the global supply chain, capitalising on its geological and geographical advantages. Mr Albanese was expected to meet the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in mid-June but Mr Trump left the event the night before their scheduled conversation to deal with escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The coalition has continued to pressure the prime minister over the relationship with Australia's key ally, with opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor saying the prime minister "has never had any great love for the US alliance". While Mr Albanese wasn't the only world leader to be stood up by the Republican president, the relative insignificance of Australia as a US trading partner has been raised as one obstacle to getting a rescheduled meeting. But Mr Mondschein did not believe missing a bilateral meeting was an existential challenge as Australia's relationship with the US had never been so consequential. The prime minister said Australia was an important ally for the US as it helped deliver peace and security in the Pacific region, and provided goods and services to the world, making it a significant economy. "Australia always pulls our weight," he said. Mr Albanese added he understood the president's decision to leave the G7, a move that eventually led to a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The G20 leaders meeting in November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in June and the Quad meeting - which will occur some time in the year - all offer a second chance for the two to get together. Foreign Minister Penny Wong landed in the US capital Washington on Tuesday, Australian time, as Canberra tries to broker an exemption from America's 50 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports and 10 per cent levies on other goods. She is set to attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan. Australia has been urged to zoom out on its approach to the US relationship, instead of honing in on the nitty-gritty of tariffs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces growing pressure to organise a face-to-face with US President Donald Trump after their scheduled June meeting was scuppered by events in the Middle East. With Mr Trump's tariffs continuing to dominate global economic discussions, the prime minister has hinted at ways his government could negotiate a carve-out. But United States Studies Centre research director Jared Mondschein said Australia should take a more long-term view on the US as trying to predict the Trump administration was "a bit of a fool's errand". "Instead of focusing - in my view - too myopically on the tariff side, I encourage the Australian government to focus instead on the broader conversation," he told AAP. "(Tariffs are) something unique to this administration, I can't imagine other administrations doing it similarly. "There's a lot of opportunity where Australia has more influence." Security, supply chains, space co-operation and critical minerals were all areas in which Australia could bolster ties to the US for years beyond Mr Trump's second term, Mr Mondschein said. Washington had shown a particular eagerness to get its hands on critical minerals as China had previously used its hold on rare earths to gain economic leverage. Mr Mondschein noted Beijing blocked exports to Japan in 2010, but in the 15 years since there had been "more rhetoric than substantive gains in any sort of calibrated response". "It's all the more important for allies and partners to start getting their act together," he said. Resources Minister Madeleine King on Tuesday said Australia would continue working with the US to invest in critical minerals to ensure the nation could become a "robust" part of the global supply chain, capitalising on its geological and geographical advantages. Mr Albanese was expected to meet the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in mid-June but Mr Trump left the event the night before their scheduled conversation to deal with escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The coalition has continued to pressure the prime minister over the relationship with Australia's key ally, with opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor saying the prime minister "has never had any great love for the US alliance". While Mr Albanese wasn't the only world leader to be stood up by the Republican president, the relative insignificance of Australia as a US trading partner has been raised as one obstacle to getting a rescheduled meeting. But Mr Mondschein did not believe missing a bilateral meeting was an existential challenge as Australia's relationship with the US had never been so consequential. The prime minister said Australia was an important ally for the US as it helped deliver peace and security in the Pacific region, and provided goods and services to the world, making it a significant economy. "Australia always pulls our weight," he said. Mr Albanese added he understood the president's decision to leave the G7, a move that eventually led to a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The G20 leaders meeting in November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in June and the Quad meeting - which will occur some time in the year - all offer a second chance for the two to get together. Foreign Minister Penny Wong landed in the US capital Washington on Tuesday, Australian time, as Canberra tries to broker an exemption from America's 50 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports and 10 per cent levies on other goods. She is set to attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan. Australia has been urged to zoom out on its approach to the US relationship, instead of honing in on the nitty-gritty of tariffs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces growing pressure to organise a face-to-face with US President Donald Trump after their scheduled June meeting was scuppered by events in the Middle East. With Mr Trump's tariffs continuing to dominate global economic discussions, the prime minister has hinted at ways his government could negotiate a carve-out. But United States Studies Centre research director Jared Mondschein said Australia should take a more long-term view on the US as trying to predict the Trump administration was "a bit of a fool's errand". "Instead of focusing - in my view - too myopically on the tariff side, I encourage the Australian government to focus instead on the broader conversation," he told AAP. "(Tariffs are) something unique to this administration, I can't imagine other administrations doing it similarly. "There's a lot of opportunity where Australia has more influence." Security, supply chains, space co-operation and critical minerals were all areas in which Australia could bolster ties to the US for years beyond Mr Trump's second term, Mr Mondschein said. Washington had shown a particular eagerness to get its hands on critical minerals as China had previously used its hold on rare earths to gain economic leverage. Mr Mondschein noted Beijing blocked exports to Japan in 2010, but in the 15 years since there had been "more rhetoric than substantive gains in any sort of calibrated response". "It's all the more important for allies and partners to start getting their act together," he said. Resources Minister Madeleine King on Tuesday said Australia would continue working with the US to invest in critical minerals to ensure the nation could become a "robust" part of the global supply chain, capitalising on its geological and geographical advantages. Mr Albanese was expected to meet the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in mid-June but Mr Trump left the event the night before their scheduled conversation to deal with escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The coalition has continued to pressure the prime minister over the relationship with Australia's key ally, with opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor saying the prime minister "has never had any great love for the US alliance". While Mr Albanese wasn't the only world leader to be stood up by the Republican president, the relative insignificance of Australia as a US trading partner has been raised as one obstacle to getting a rescheduled meeting. But Mr Mondschein did not believe missing a bilateral meeting was an existential challenge as Australia's relationship with the US had never been so consequential. The prime minister said Australia was an important ally for the US as it helped deliver peace and security in the Pacific region, and provided goods and services to the world, making it a significant economy. "Australia always pulls our weight," he said. Mr Albanese added he understood the president's decision to leave the G7, a move that eventually led to a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The G20 leaders meeting in November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in June and the Quad meeting - which will occur some time in the year - all offer a second chance for the two to get together. Foreign Minister Penny Wong landed in the US capital Washington on Tuesday, Australian time, as Canberra tries to broker an exemption from America's 50 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports and 10 per cent levies on other goods. She is set to attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Rice not on the table in Japan's trade talks with US
Japan won't sacrifice its agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator says, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally isn't buying American rice. Trump's comment, made in a social media post on Monday, comes as Tokyo scrambles to convince the US to scrap a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese cars and a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports. The reciprocal tariff has been paused until July 9, but Japan has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations. While the auto sector is Japan's top employer and exporter, the farm sector has traditionally been an important voting bloc for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which faces key upper house elections on July 20. "I have repeatedly stated that agriculture is the foundation of the nation," top trade negotiator and Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa told a press conference on Tuesday. "In negotiations with the United States, our stance remains unchanged: We will not engage in talks that would sacrifice the agricultural sector," he said, adding that he would continue to negotiate with his US counterparts to protect Japan's national interests. Akazawa, who returned from his seventh trip to Washington a few days ago, declined to say whether rice was part of those discussions. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Japan's reluctance to import American-grown rice was a sign that countries have become "spoiled with respect to the United States of America". "I have great respect for Japan, they won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," he wrote. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year, hurting consumers. But Tokyo caps tariff-free imports of staple rice - which is consumed at meals as opposed to rice used for feed or ingredients in other products - at 100,000 metric tonnes a year and imposes a levy of 341 yen ($2.37) per kg for anything beyond that. That amount is a fraction of Japan's total annual consumption of about seven million tonnes. While Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has lamented the influx of foreign rice as a threat to Japan's food security, the government has brought forward a tender usually held in September for this year's first 30,000 tonnes of tariff-free staple rice imports as part of efforts to lower domestic prices. with AP Japan won't sacrifice its agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator says, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally isn't buying American rice. Trump's comment, made in a social media post on Monday, comes as Tokyo scrambles to convince the US to scrap a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese cars and a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports. The reciprocal tariff has been paused until July 9, but Japan has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations. While the auto sector is Japan's top employer and exporter, the farm sector has traditionally been an important voting bloc for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which faces key upper house elections on July 20. "I have repeatedly stated that agriculture is the foundation of the nation," top trade negotiator and Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa told a press conference on Tuesday. "In negotiations with the United States, our stance remains unchanged: We will not engage in talks that would sacrifice the agricultural sector," he said, adding that he would continue to negotiate with his US counterparts to protect Japan's national interests. Akazawa, who returned from his seventh trip to Washington a few days ago, declined to say whether rice was part of those discussions. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Japan's reluctance to import American-grown rice was a sign that countries have become "spoiled with respect to the United States of America". "I have great respect for Japan, they won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," he wrote. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year, hurting consumers. But Tokyo caps tariff-free imports of staple rice - which is consumed at meals as opposed to rice used for feed or ingredients in other products - at 100,000 metric tonnes a year and imposes a levy of 341 yen ($2.37) per kg for anything beyond that. That amount is a fraction of Japan's total annual consumption of about seven million tonnes. While Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has lamented the influx of foreign rice as a threat to Japan's food security, the government has brought forward a tender usually held in September for this year's first 30,000 tonnes of tariff-free staple rice imports as part of efforts to lower domestic prices. with AP Japan won't sacrifice its agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator says, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally isn't buying American rice. Trump's comment, made in a social media post on Monday, comes as Tokyo scrambles to convince the US to scrap a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese cars and a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports. The reciprocal tariff has been paused until July 9, but Japan has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations. While the auto sector is Japan's top employer and exporter, the farm sector has traditionally been an important voting bloc for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which faces key upper house elections on July 20. "I have repeatedly stated that agriculture is the foundation of the nation," top trade negotiator and Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa told a press conference on Tuesday. "In negotiations with the United States, our stance remains unchanged: We will not engage in talks that would sacrifice the agricultural sector," he said, adding that he would continue to negotiate with his US counterparts to protect Japan's national interests. Akazawa, who returned from his seventh trip to Washington a few days ago, declined to say whether rice was part of those discussions. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Japan's reluctance to import American-grown rice was a sign that countries have become "spoiled with respect to the United States of America". "I have great respect for Japan, they won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," he wrote. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year, hurting consumers. But Tokyo caps tariff-free imports of staple rice - which is consumed at meals as opposed to rice used for feed or ingredients in other products - at 100,000 metric tonnes a year and imposes a levy of 341 yen ($2.37) per kg for anything beyond that. That amount is a fraction of Japan's total annual consumption of about seven million tonnes. While Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has lamented the influx of foreign rice as a threat to Japan's food security, the government has brought forward a tender usually held in September for this year's first 30,000 tonnes of tariff-free staple rice imports as part of efforts to lower domestic prices. with AP Japan won't sacrifice its agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator says, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally isn't buying American rice. Trump's comment, made in a social media post on Monday, comes as Tokyo scrambles to convince the US to scrap a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese cars and a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports. The reciprocal tariff has been paused until July 9, but Japan has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations. While the auto sector is Japan's top employer and exporter, the farm sector has traditionally been an important voting bloc for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which faces key upper house elections on July 20. "I have repeatedly stated that agriculture is the foundation of the nation," top trade negotiator and Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa told a press conference on Tuesday. "In negotiations with the United States, our stance remains unchanged: We will not engage in talks that would sacrifice the agricultural sector," he said, adding that he would continue to negotiate with his US counterparts to protect Japan's national interests. Akazawa, who returned from his seventh trip to Washington a few days ago, declined to say whether rice was part of those discussions. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Japan's reluctance to import American-grown rice was a sign that countries have become "spoiled with respect to the United States of America". "I have great respect for Japan, they won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," he wrote. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year, hurting consumers. But Tokyo caps tariff-free imports of staple rice - which is consumed at meals as opposed to rice used for feed or ingredients in other products - at 100,000 metric tonnes a year and imposes a levy of 341 yen ($2.37) per kg for anything beyond that. That amount is a fraction of Japan's total annual consumption of about seven million tonnes. While Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has lamented the influx of foreign rice as a threat to Japan's food security, the government has brought forward a tender usually held in September for this year's first 30,000 tonnes of tariff-free staple rice imports as part of efforts to lower domestic prices. with AP
