GuShiio.com ① Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expects that Japan will be immune from the impact of US tariff increases because Japan is the largest investor in the United States and creates many job opportunities;
② Shigeru Ishiba promised to increase Japan’s direct investment in the United States to US$1 trillion, covering liquefied natural gas, steel, artificial intelligence and automobile industries.
Cailian News, February 9 (Editor Liu Rui)On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was optimistic that Japan would be immune from U.S. tariff increases, and claimed that U.S. President Trump had “recognized” Japan’s huge investment in the United States and the jobs it created there.
However, at the same time, Shigeru Ishiba has promised to increase Japan’s direct investment in the United States to US$1 trillion. As of 2023, Japan’s stock of direct investment in the United States has reached US$783.3 billion, ranking first in the world for five consecutive years since 2019.
“Japan is different from other countries”
On Friday, U.S. Eastern Time, Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House. Shigeru Ishiba said he explained to Trump how many Japanese automakers have created jobs in the United States. He also revealed that the two did not specifically discuss the issue of automobile tariffs.
In the first few weeks since Trump took office, Japan temporarily “escaped” Trump’s tariff “big stick” attack. Currently, Trump has only announced tariff plans on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, and has made tariff threats against Europe.
Shigeru Ishiba said he believed Trump “has recognized that Japan has been the largest investor in the United States for five consecutive years, so (for Trump) Japan is different from other countries… Japan is creating many jobs for the United States.” I believe (the U.S. government) will not directly raise the idea of raising tariffs.”
Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism that Japan and the United States could avoid a tit-for-tat tariff war, emphasizing that tariffs should be implemented in a way that is “beneficial to both sides.”
“Any behavior that exploits or excludes each other will not last long,” Ishiba said.”The key is whether there is a question between Japan and the United States that is worth imposing higher tariffs.”
Japan’s investment in the United States will rise to US$1 trillion
According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, as of 2023, Japan has become the largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States for five consecutive years, providing the United States with up to US$783.3 billion in direct investment, ahead of Canada and Germany.
Although Trump is also urging Shigeru Ishiba to reverse Japan’s US$68.5 billion annual trade deficit with the United States, given that Shigeru Ishiba has promised to increase Japan’s direct investment in the United States to US$1 trillion, he is optimistic that this goal may be achieved soon.
Shigeru Ishiba pointed out that the U.S. liquefied natural gas, steel, artificial intelligence and automobile industries are all areas that Japanese companies can invest.
He also said that Trump has promised to consider Nippon Steel investing in, rather than acquiring, U.S. Steel.
“The investment is to make sure it remains an American company. It will continue to operate under American management, employing American employees… The key is how to ensure it remains an American company. From President Trump’s perspective, this is crucial.”
