Leaders in Japan are wringing their hands over what to offer in trade talks with Washington. A view is emerging within the government and main ruling party that there is room to import more US soybeans and corn.



President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs earlier this month on countries he deems are trading with the United States on unfair terms. He later announced a 90-day pause, and Japan is now racing to broker a deal.



Farm produce will likely be a focus of the talks.



Japan is considering increasing imports of US corn as livestock feed, and in the form of bioethanol.



Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi, who is knowledgeable about agricultural policies, spoke on Friday.



He says buying more US corn would not be a problem, and that most imports already come from the United States and Brazil.



Moriyama said Japan may also be able to slightly increase imports of US soybeans.



Some government officials offer a similar view. They point out that US exports of soybeans to China will likely fall if trade friction between the two countries worsens.



But there are concerns about importing more American rice and possibly impacting Japan's domestic industry.