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1 Japan pM Ishiba, after Meeting Trump, Voices Optimism Over Averting

Ishiba says no talk with Trump on car tariffs at summit

Trump acknowledges Japan's US substantial financial investment, job development

LNG, steel, AI and automobiles are areas Japan can invest in US

Nippon Steel will run under US management, staff

Japan will not raise defence costs without public support

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday that his nation could avoid greater U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had actually "identified" Japan's huge 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, he explained to Trump how lots of Japanese automakers were producing tasks in the United States.

The 2 did not particularly discuss car tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would go through the mutual tariffs that Trump has actually said he prepares to trouble imports.

Tokyo has so far left the trade war Trump unleashed in his first weeks in office. He has revealed tariffs on goods from Canada, wiki.eqoarevival.com Mexico and funsilo.date China, although he held off the 25% responsibilities on his North American neighbours to enable talks.

The intensifying trade stress given that Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the global economy.

Ishiba said he believes Trump "identified the truth Japan has been the world's biggest financier in the United States for five straight years, and is therefore various from other nations."

"Japan is developing lots of U.S. tasks. I believe (Washington) won't go straight to the concept of higher tariffs," he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can prevent a tit-for-tat tariff war, worrying that tariffs ought to be put in place in a manner that "benefits both sides".

"Any action that makes use of or leaves out the other side will not last," Ishiba said. "The concern is whether there is any issue in between Japan and the United States that calls for imposing higher 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 current U.S. Commerce Department information.

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

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied natural gas, steel, AI and automobiles as locations that Japanese business could buy.

He likewise discussed Trump's guarantee to take a look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, rather than buying the storied American company - a prepared purchase opposed by Trump and blocked 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 bottom line is how to ensure it remains an American business. From President Trump's perspective, this is of utmost significance."

On military spending, another location where Trump has pushed allies for increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget without very first winning public support. "It is crucial to ensure that what is deemed necessary is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly