Ishiba says no talk with Trump on auto tariffs at top

Trump recognises Japan's US huge investment, drapia.org task production

LNG, steel, AI and vehicles are areas Japan can buy US

Nippon Steel will run under US management, surgiteams.com staff

Japan will not raise defence costs without public assistance

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

At his first White House top on Friday, Ishiba informed public broadcaster NHK, library.kemu.ac.ke he explained to Trump how numerous Japanese car manufacturers were creating tasks in the United States.

The 2 did not particularly go over auto tariffs, trademarketclassifieds.com Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would undergo the mutual tariffs that Trump has said he prepares to enforce on imports.

Tokyo has up until now left the trade war Trump let loose in his first weeks in workplace. He has revealed tariffs on items from Canada, yogicentral.science Mexico and China, although he held off the 25% tasks on his North American neighbours to enable talks.

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

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

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

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

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

Japan had the highest foreign direct financial investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, ura.cc 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 annual trade surplus with Washington however expressed optimism this might be done quickly, offered a guarantee by Ishiba to bring Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

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

He likewise touched on Trump's guarantee to take a look at Nippon Steel purchasing U.S. Steel, as opposed to purchasing the storied American business - a prepared purchase opposed by Trump and blocked by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to guarantee 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 business. From President Trump's perspective, this is of utmost value."

On military spending, another area where Trump has for increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget plan without very first winning public backing. "It is crucial to ensure that what is considered required is something the taxpayers can understand and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly