With Trump vote in mind, Japan yields on beef but protects its rice

Motegi and Lighthizer to finalize trade deal details ahead of next week's summit

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, who is also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, eats rice from local supporters in Fukushima during the 2017 lower house election campaign. © Reuters

RINTARO TOBITA and ALEX FANG, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/NEW YORK -- Japan will not offer the U.S. tariff exemptions for rice in their soon-to-be-signed trade deal, Nikkei has learned.

The exemptions would have been granted under the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and the decision not to offer them this time marks a different approach by Tokyo than for beef.

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