US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a trade agreement with Japan is unlikely before a July 9 deadline, warning of steep tariff hikes on Japanese imports if a deal is not reached.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump criticised Tokyo’s resistance to importing US rice and the persistent imbalance in auto trade. “I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal,” he said. “I doubt it with Japan, they’re very tough.”

The warning comes as a temporary pause on elevated tariffs—introduced in April with a 10% baseline rate—expires next week.

Trump had held off imposing steeper tariffs on dozens of economies to allow room for negotiations. So far, only two agreements have been reached: a broad framework with the UK and a temporary easing of duties with China.

Trump said he planned to write to Japan demanding tariffs of “30 percent, 35 percent or whatever the number is that we determine,” citing what he called an unfair trade deficit.

Japan, one of the US’s closest allies and its largest foreign investor, currently faces both the baseline 10% tariff and additional levies on steel, aluminium and vehicles.

Japanese trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa said last month that “some progress” had been made during the fifth round of talks, but no breakthrough has been announced.

If no deal is reached by July 9, the US is expected to implement the higher tariff rates, further straining trade ties with Tokyo.