setvisionstudios

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

Ishiba says no talk with Trump on vehicle tariffs at summit

Trump identifies Japan's US huge financial investment, task creation

LNG, steel, AI and cars are locations Japan can purchase US

Nippon Steel will run under US management, systemcheck-wiki.de staff

Japan will not raise defence spending without public support

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his nation might avoid greater U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had "identified" Japan's big financial investment in the U.S. and the American jobs that it creates.

At his first White House top on Friday, Ishiba informed public broadcaster NHK, orcz.com he explained to Trump the number of Japanese automakers were developing tasks in the United States.

The two did not specifically go over automobile tariffs, orcz.com Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would go through the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has said he prepares to impose on imports.

Tokyo has so far escaped the trade war Trump unleashed in his first weeks in office. He has announced tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China, although he postponed the 25% tasks on his North American neighbours to .

The escalating trade stress because Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the global economy.

Ishiba said he thinks Trump "identified the fact Japan has actually been the world's biggest investor in the United States for 5 straight years, and is for that reason various from other countries."

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

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and galgbtqhistoryproject.org the U.S. can avoid a tit-for-tat tariff war, worrying that tariffs should be put in location in a method that "benefits both sides".

"Any action that exploits or excludes the other side won't last," Ishiba said. "The question is whether there is any problem in between Japan and the United States that requires enforcing higher tariffs," he added.

Japan had the highest foreign direct financial 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 data.

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

On Sunday, Ishiba recognized liquefied gas, steel, AI and automobiles as locations that Japanese business might invest in.

He likewise touched on Trump's pledge to take a look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, rather than purchasing the storied American company - a planned purchase opposed by Trump and obstructed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to ensure that it remains an American company. It will continue to run under American management, with American staff members," Ishiba said. "The essential point is how to ensure it remains an American company. From President Trump's point of view, this is of utmost significance."

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