He said Japan could face a tariff of 30 to 35 percent if no deal is made, higher than the 24 percent reciprocal tariff Trump had originally imposed, and then paused, in early April. The tariff pause ends on July 9, though Trump has touted flexibility on the deadline.

Japan was set to dispatch its chief tariff negotiator to the United States for an eighth round of ministerial-level talks but called it off after being forced into a waiting game by the White House.

US President Donald Trump cast doubt on reaching a trade deal with Japan, a day after threatening higher tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States, claiming the country won’t buy American rice.