President Donald Trump is threatening to impose higher tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States over what he claims is the country’s unwillingness to buy American-grown rice.

President Trump's self-imposed July 9 deadline on tariffs is fast approaching, with the president and top administration officials providing mixed signals on its malleability while countries race to finalize talks.

Japan will not sacrifice the agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator said on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally was not buying American rice.