**Countdown to Turmoil: Trump’s 35% Threat Looms Over Japan's Trade Agreements**

US President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Japan by threatening to implement a 30% to 35% tariff on Japanese goods if a trade deal is not finalized before an approaching deadline next week. This ultimatum follows a previous action taken on April 2, labeled ’Liberation Day,’ where Japan, among other countries, faced an initial 24% tariff. Currently, Japan’s exports to the US are subject to a 10% tax, a figure that was temporarily lowered for negotiation purposes but is set to revert soon without a new agreement.

Trump’s outlook on reaching a satisfactory agreement appears bleak, as he expressed skepticism during a flight aboard Air Force One, stating, “I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it.” The Japanese government has opted not to directly respond to Trump’s tariff threat but acknowledged awareness of the comments made. Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Kazuhiko Aoki, remarked on the lack of need to address every US official’s remarks at a news conference.

Trade dynamics between the two nations are further complicated by existing tariffs, including a 25% import tax on vehicles and parts from Japan, along with a staggering 50% tariff on steel and aluminum products. Amid these complexities, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has indicated that the country will not compromise its agricultural interests, especially concerning rice imports, which Trump criticized on his Truth Social platform due to Japan’s ongoing rice shortages.

Despite initial promises to sign numerous trade agreements during this tariff pause, only the UK has successfully negotiated a deal with the US, raising questions about the effectiveness of Trump’s trade strategy. With the deadline looming on July 9, all eyes are now on whether Japan will bend or if the tariffs will escalate in a bid for leverage in the ongoing trade discussions.