Ishiba states no talk with Trump on auto tariffs at top

Trump acknowledges Japan’s US substantial investment, task development

LNG, smfsimple.com steel, AI and autos are locations Japan can purchase US

Nippon Steel will run under US management, personnel

Japan will not raise defence spending without public support

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country might prevent greater U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had actually «acknowledged» Japan’s huge financial investment in the U.S. and gratisafhalen.be the American jobs that it creates.

At his first White House top on Friday, Ishiba told public broadcaster NHK, he explained to Trump the number of Japanese car manufacturers were creating tasks in the United States.

The two did not specifically go over car tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not whether Japan would be subject to the mutual tariffs that Trump has actually said he plans to enforce on imports.

Tokyo has so far escaped the trade war Trump released in his first weeks in office. He has announced tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China, although he held off the 25% duties on his North American neighbours to permit talks.

The intensifying trade tensions because Trump went back to the White House on January 20 threaten to rupture the international economy.

Ishiba said he believes Trump «identified the truth Japan has been the world’s biggest investor in the United States for five straight years, and is therefore various from other countries.»

«Japan is creating numerous U.S. jobs. I believe (Washington) won’t go straight to the idea of greater tariffs,» he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and galgbtqhistoryproject.org the U.S. can prevent a tit-for-tat tariff war, stressing that tariffs should be put in place in a way that «advantages both sides».

«Any action that makes use of or leaves out the opposite won’t last,» Ishiba said. «The question is whether there is any issue in between Japan and the United States that necessitates enforcing greater tariffs,» he included.

Japan had the highest foreign direct financial investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, hb9lc.org 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 quickly, given a promise by Ishiba to bring Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied natural gas, steel, AI and vehicles as areas that Japanese companies could buy.

He likewise discussed Trump’s pledge to look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, instead of purchasing the storied American business – 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 workers,» Ishiba said. «The bottom line is how to ensure it remains an American business. From President Trump’s point of view, this is of utmost significance.»

On military costs, another location where Trump has actually pressed allies for forum.altaycoins.com increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget plan without first winning public support. «It is important to ensure that what is considered necessary is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support,» he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)