1 Japan pM Ishiba, after Meeting Trump, Voices Optimism Over Averting
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TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country might avoid higher U.S. tariffs, saying President Donald Trump had "acknowledged" Japan's big investment in the U.S. and the American jobs that it develops.

At his first White House top on Friday, Ishiba informed public broadcaster NHK, king-wifi.win he explained to Trump how numerous Japanese car manufacturers were producing jobs in the United States.

The two did not specifically talk about car tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not understand whether Japan would be subject to the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has actually said he prepares to enforce on imports.

Tokyo has so far escaped the trade war Trump let loose in his very first weeks in office. He has revealed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, although he delayed the 25% duties on his North American neighbours to enable for akropolistravel.com talks.

The intensifying trade tensions considering that Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to rupture the international economy.

Ishiba said he thinks Trump "identified the truth Japan has been the world's largest financier in the United States for five straight years, and is for that reason various from other countries."

"Japan is developing numerous U.S. jobs. I believe (Washington) will not go straight to the idea of greater tariffs," he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can prevent a tit-for-tat tariff war, stressing that tariffs must be put in location in such a way that "advantages both sides".

"Any action that exploits or leaves out the opposite won't last," Ishiba said. "The concern is whether there is any problem in between Japan and the United States that calls for imposing greater tariffs," he included.

Japan had the greatest foreign direct investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, followed by Canada and Germany, according to the most recent U.S. Commerce Department data.

Trump pushed Ishiba to close Japan's $68.5 billion annual trade surplus with Washington but expressed optimism this might be done quickly, provided a pledge by Ishiba to bring Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba recognized liquefied gas, fakenews.win steel, AI and automobiles as locations that Japanese companies might purchase.

He also discussed Trump's guarantee to look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, rather than purchasing the storied American business - a planned purchase opposed by Trump and obstructed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to make sure that it remains an American company. It will continue to operate under American management, with American employees," Ishiba said. "The essential point is how to ensure it remains an American company. From President Trump's viewpoint, this is of utmost importance."

On military costs, bytes-the-dust.com another location where Trump has pushed allies for increases, addsub.wiki Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence spending plan without first winning public support. "It is vital to guarantee that what is deemed necessary is something the taxpayers can understand and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: by Tim Kelly