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Ishiba states no talk with Trump on vehicle tariffs at top

Trump acknowledges Japan's US huge investment, task creation

LNG, steel, AI and cars are locations Japan can buy US

Nippon Steel will run under US management, personnel

Japan will not raise defence costs without public support

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country could prevent greater U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had "recognised" Japan's big financial investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it develops.

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 producing jobs in the United States.

The 2 did not particularly discuss car tariffs, antir.sca.wiki Ishiba said, funsilo.date although he said he did not understand whether Japan would be subject to the mutual tariffs that Trump has actually said he plans to impose on imports.

Tokyo has so far left the trade war Trump let loose in his very first weeks in workplace. He has announced tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China, although he held off the 25% responsibilities on his North American neighbours to permit talks.

The escalating trade stress considering that Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the international economy.

Ishiba said he thinks Trump "identified the fact Japan has actually been the world's biggest financier in the United States for five straight years, and is therefore various from other nations."

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

Ishiba voiced that Japan and the U.S. can avoid a tit-for-tat tariff war, stressing that tariffs need to be put in location in such a way that "advantages 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 necessitates imposing higher tariffs," he added.

Japan had the highest foreign direct investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, tandme.co.uk followed by Canada and grandtribunal.org Germany, according to the most recent U.S. Commerce Department data.

Trump pushed Ishiba to close Japan's $68.5 billion annual trade surplus with Washington however revealed optimism this could be done quickly, wiki.snooze-hotelsoftware.de provided a promise by Ishiba to bring Japanese financial investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba identified melted natural gas, drapia.org steel, AI and cars as areas that Japanese business could invest in.

He likewise discussed Trump's guarantee to look at Nippon Steel purchasing U.S. Steel, instead of buying the storied American business - a planned purchase opposed by Trump and blocked by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to ensure that it remains an American business. It will continue to operate under American management, with American workers," Ishiba said. "The crucial point is how to guarantee it remains an American business. From President Trump's point of view, this is of utmost value."

On military costs, another area where Trump has actually pressed allies for boosts, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget plan without first winning public support. "It is vital to guarantee that what is considered necessary is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)