GitLab

Ishiba says no talk with Trump on auto tariffs at top

Trump recognises Japan's US substantial investment, job creation

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

Nippon Steel will operate under US management, staff

Japan will not raise defence costs without public support

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba revealed optimism on Sunday that his country might prevent higher U.S. tariffs, drapia.org saying President Donald Trump had actually "recognised" Japan's big financial investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it produces.

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

The 2 did not specifically talk about vehicle tariffs, Ishiba said, prawattasao.awardspace.info although he said he did not know 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 office. He has actually revealed tariffs on items from Canada, Mexico and China, users.atw.hu although he held off the 25% duties on his North American neighbours to enable talks.

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

Ishiba said he thinks Trump "recognised the reality Japan has actually been the world's biggest investor in the United States for 5 straight years, and is therefore various from other nations."

"Japan is producing many U.S. jobs. I think (Washington) won't go straight to the idea of higher tariffs," he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can avoid a tit-for-tat tariff war, worrying that tariffs should be put in place in such a way that "advantages both sides".

"Any action that exploits or excludes the other side will not last," Ishiba said. "The concern is whether there is any issue between Japan and the United States that warrants enforcing higher tariffs," he included.

Japan had the highest 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 information.

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

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied natural gas, yewiki.org steel, AI and cars as areas that Japanese business might buy.

He also touched on Trump's guarantee to take a look at Nippon Steel purchasing U.S. Steel, instead of buying the storied American business - a planned purchase 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 operate under American management, with American staff members," Ishiba said. "The crucial point is how to guarantee it remains an American company. From President Trump's viewpoint, this is of utmost value."

On military spending, demo.qkseo.in another location where Trump has actually pushed allies for increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence spending plan without very first winning public support. "It is important to guarantee that what is considered required is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)