On May 11, the Reference News website reported, according to a report by Kyodo News on May 11, regarding the negotiations between the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom on a 10% tariff agreement including automobiles, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized in a Fuji TV program on the same day: "This is a model, but we have always demanded the elimination of tariffs. It does not mean that 10% is acceptable."
Ishiba stated regarding the Japan-US tariff negotiations: "We will not sacrifice agriculture for the sake of automobiles." As for measures against the rising price of rice, Ishiba said, "Increasing imports as one of the options is possible," while also emphasizing the necessity of adjusting the entire rice policy to strengthen Japan's competitiveness and strive to increase farmers' income.
Ishiba mentioned the possibility of increasing imports of American corn for use in bioethanol and other fuels.
The report stated that the deadline for suspending the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" will expire on July 9th, and Ishiba said, "That is (the goal) for reaching an agreement, we must not compromise even if conditions are unfavorable when the deadline arrives; we must strive until national interests are secured."
Regarding the U.S. criticism of automobile safety standards as "non-tariff barriers," Ishiba stated: "We will not do something detrimental to public safety just because of criticism from the United States."
Original article: [https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503133652193133083/](https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503133652193133083/)
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