According to data from the Trade Statistics of Japan Ministry of Finance, 78% of all powdered green tea exported from Japan -- which includes matcha powder -- went to the U.S. in 2024. After the U.S., the largest amount of powdered green tea was exported to the European Union and the United Kingdom, followed by Taiwan.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday modifying his so-called reciprocal tariff rates for certain countries, including the authorization of a 15 percent rate for Japan. Trump's signing came just hours before the expiration of his monthslong pause on country-specific tariffs,