President Donald Trump is reportedly urging Japan to increase its purchase of U.S. agricultural products, a request that comes as China halts it owns purchase of domestic farm goods amid an escalating trade dispute with the White House.

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Trump's ask of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reported on Tuesday by Kyodo news agency, comes as the two nations seek to craft a broad agreement, reportedly by September. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among other grievances, Trump has raised concerns over the number of vehicles imported from Japan to the U.S., going so far as to threaten to impose a 25 percent tariff on the shipments. The White House is also reportedly pushing for the country to reduce existing duties on beef imports.

Trump and Abe are slated to meet at a United Nations summit next month.

While the U.S. seeks to broaden its agricultural partnership with Japan, relationships with China are increasingly souring.

The rising tensions -- which is evolving into a currency dispute as China tinkers with the reference rate for the yuan -- is undermining the relationship with one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. The Asian nation imported $9.1 billion in farm goods in 2018, a 53 percent year-over-year decrease.

Beijing had previously promised to accelerate its purchase of key agriculture products like soybeans but failed to live up to the pledge, according to Trump.

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Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea are currently locked in their own trade and political dispute, one that Trump offered to mediate at the behest of South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

“If they would both want me to, I'll be. It’s like a full-time job getting involved with Japan and South Korea. But I like both leaders,” he told reporters in July.