Japan pM Ishiba, after Meeting Trump, Voices Optimism Over Averting
Ishiba states no talk with Trump on vehicle tariffs at top
Trump recognises Japan's US substantial financial investment, task development
LNG, fakenews.win steel, AI and automobiles are locations Japan can purchase US
Nippon Steel will run under US management, personnel
Japan will not raise defence spending without public assistance
TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country could avoid greater U.S. tariffs, videochatforum.ro saying President Donald Trump had "recognised" Japan's big investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it develops.
At his first White on Friday, visualchemy.gallery Ishiba told public broadcaster NHK, he explained to Trump the number of Japanese car manufacturers were creating jobs in the United States.
The 2 did not specifically discuss auto tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not understand whether Japan would go through the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has said he prepares to enforce on imports.
Tokyo has so far got away the trade war Trump let loose in his first weeks in workplace. He has announced tariffs on items from Canada, Mexico and China, although he delayed the 25% tasks on his North American neighbours to permit for talks.
The intensifying trade stress considering that Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the worldwide economy.
Ishiba said he thinks Trump "identified the truth Japan has actually been the world's largest financier in the United States for 5 straight years, and is for that reason various from other countries."
"Japan is developing lots of U.S. jobs. I believe (Washington) will not go straight to the idea of higher tariffs," he said.
Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can prevent a tit-for-tat tariff war, stressing that tariffs should be put in place in a way that "benefits both sides".
"Any action that makes use of or excludes the other side won't last," Ishiba said. "The concern is whether there is any problem in between Japan and the United States that warrants enforcing higher tariffs," he included.
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 yearly trade surplus with Washington however revealed optimism this could be done quickly, offered a pledge by Ishiba to bring Japanese financial investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.
On Sunday, Ishiba recognized liquefied gas, steel, AI and automobiles as areas that Japanese companies could invest in.
He also touched on Trump's pledge to take a look at Nippon Steel purchasing U.S. Steel, as opposed to purchasing the storied American company - a planned purchase opposed by Trump and blocked 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 employees," Ishiba said. "The key point is how to guarantee it remains an American company. From President Trump's perspective, this is of utmost value."
On military spending, another area where Trump has pushed allies for boosts, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget plan without first winning public support. "It is important to make sure that what is deemed necessary is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)