Latest news with #農家
NHK
01-07-2025
- Business
- NHK
Japan eyes reform of rice policy to expand production
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says more needs to be done to ensure price stability in the rice market. He says that includes boosting production in a way that benefits both consumers and farmers. Ishiba convened a meeting of relevant ministers on Tuesday to discuss the government's efforts to achieve that goal. He said the release of national rice reserves and other measures are steadily producing results, noting that prices have come down to the government's target range. Going forward, Ishiba said ministers should ramp up efforts on long-term solutions. He said: "We aim to increase production starting from this year. We will change our rice policy to ensure stable supply for consumers and sufficient income for farmers so they can work without worrying." Ishiba also vowed to find out what caused the price of rice to surge. He said that will include a probe of the distribution system. The latest nationwide survey released by the agriculture ministry on Monday shows the price of rice at supermarkets falling for a fifth straight week, hitting a four-month low. But, that was still about 70 percent higher from a year earlier.
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Trump once called it his favorite word. Now, the Japanese version is all over the news.
U.S. President Donald Trump once said 'tariff' was his favorite word. In Japanese, 'tariff' translates to 関税 (kanzei, import tax), a word you've likely heard more often in the news. Coupled with Japan's lingering 米不足 (kome-busoku, rice shortage), 関税 negotiations are now moving toward a broader acceptance of 輸入米 (yunyūmai, imported rice), specifically from the United States. The Japanese are proud of their 国産米 (kokusanmai, domestically produced rice) and have traditionally been reluctant to import rice, the country's staple food, from abroad as a way to protect domestic farmers. Still, some 輸入米 is able to get through — though the U.S. has falsely claimed that 日本はアメリカ産の米に 700%の関税 をかけている (Nihon wa Amerika-san no kome ni nanahyaku pāsento no kanzei o kakete-iru, Japan imposes a 700% tariff on rice produced in the U.S.). The actual situation is much more complicated than that.
