Ishiba says no talk with Trump on vehicle tariffs at top

Trump recognises Japan's US big financial investment, task production

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

Nippon Steel will operate under US management, passfun.awardspace.us personnel

Japan will not raise defence costs without public assistance

TOKYO, sitiosecuador.com Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba revealed optimism on Sunday that his nation could prevent greater U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had "acknowledged" Japan's substantial investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it produces.

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

The two did not specifically talk about auto tariffs, Ishiba said, akropolistravel.com although he said he did not know whether Japan would go through the mutual tariffs that Trump has said he prepares to enforce on imports.

Tokyo has up until now left the trade war Trump released in his very first weeks in workplace. He has revealed tariffs on goods from Canada, thatswhathappened.wiki Mexico and China, although he held off the 25% responsibilities on his North American neighbours to permit talks.

The intensifying trade stress considering that Trump went back to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the international economy.

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

"Japan is creating numerous U.S. jobs. I believe (Washington) will not go straight to the concept 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 must be put in place in such a way that "benefits both sides".

"Any action that makes use of or omits the other side will not last," Ishiba said. "The concern is whether there is any issue in between Japan and the United States that warrants imposing greater tariffs," he added.

Japan had the greatest 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 pressed Ishiba to close Japan's $68.5 billion yearly trade surplus with Washington however expressed optimism this might be done rapidly, given a pledge by Ishiba to bring Japanese financial investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba determined liquefied gas, steel, AI and autos as areas that Japanese business might purchase.

He likewise discussed Trump's guarantee to look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, wiki.fablabbcn.org as opposed to buying the storied American company - a planned purchase opposed by Trump and obstructed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to guarantee that it remains an American business. It will continue to operate under American management, with American workers," Ishiba said. "The bottom line is how to guarantee it remains an American business. From President Trump's perspective, this is of utmost significance."

On military costs, another area where Trump has pressed allies for links.gtanet.com.br increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget without first winning public support. "It is important to make sure that what is deemed required is something the taxpayers can understand and support," he said. ( by Leika Kihara: timeoftheworld.date Additional reporting by Tim Kelly