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Ishiba states no talk with Trump on auto tariffs at top

Trump acknowledges Japan's US huge financial investment, links.gtanet.com.br job development

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

Nippon Steel will operate under US management, personnel

Japan will not raise defence spending without public assistance

TOKYO, systemcheck-wiki.de Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country might avoid higher U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had "acknowledged" Japan's big investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it develops.

At his first White House summit on Friday, wavedream.wiki Ishiba told public broadcaster NHK, he explained to Trump how numerous Japanese automakers were developing tasks in the United States.

The two did not specifically talk about automobile tariffs, wiki.vst.hs-furtwangen.de Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would be subject to the that Trump has said he plans to enforce on imports.

Tokyo has up until now got away the trade war Trump released in his first weeks in workplace. He has announced tariffs on items from Canada, Mexico and China, although he postponed the 25% tasks on his North American neighbours to permit talks.

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

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

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

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

"Any action that exploits or omits the other side will not last," Ishiba said. "The question is whether there is any problem in between Japan and the United States that warrants imposing 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, forum.batman.gainedge.org 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 however expressed optimism this could be done quickly, wiki.myamens.com provided a guarantee by Ishiba to bring Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied gas, steel, AI and vehicles as locations that Japanese companies might purchase.

He also touched on Trump's guarantee to look at Nippon Steel investing in U.S. Steel, as opposed to buying the storied American business - a prepared purchase opposed by Trump and obstructed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to make sure that it remains an American company. It will continue to run under American management, with American employees," Ishiba said. "The bottom line is how to ensure it remains an American company. From President Trump's perspective, this is of utmost significance."

On military spending, another location where Trump has actually pressed allies for increases, 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 understand and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)