IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on February 7, 2025, reaffirming U.S.-Japan relations while pressing for a reduction in the U.S. trade deficit with Japan.

The discussions between the two leaders covered a broad spectrum of critical issues, including trade policy, national security, and pressing geopolitical challenges. With the global economy facing uncertainties, both leaders explored ways to balance trade relations, particularly addressing the U.S. trade deficit with Japan.

National security was another key focus, as the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China and North Korea. As shifting alliances and economic pressures reshape the world order, Trump and Ishiba aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure long-term strategic stability.

Trade deficit and tariffs

Trump reiterated his desire to cut the $68 billion U.S. trade deficit with Japan, emphasizing that he hopes to achieve this without resorting to tariffs. However, he made it clear that imposing tariffs on Japanese goods remains an option if negotiations do not lead to a satisfactory resolution.

“I think it will be very easy for Japan,” Trump said at the start of his Oval Office meeting with Ishiba. “We have a fantastic relationship. I don’t think we’ll have any problem. They want fairness also.”

“For nearly 80 years the American and Japanese people have enjoyed a friendship like few others… After our meeting today, I’m confident that the cherished alliances between our two countries… will continue to flourish long into the future.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸🇯🇵… pic.twitter.com/JetUzmqK0k

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 8, 2025

One of the major developments from the meeting was the announcement that Japan’s Nippon Steel would drop its $14.1 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. Instead, the company will invest in the American steel industry, though details of the new arrangement remain unclear.

The shift follows President Joe Biden’s decision last month to block the purchase on national security grounds. Trump had also voiced his opposition to a foreign company acquiring the historically significant U.S. Steel, saying he was “totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company.”

The symbolic significance of the visit

“I would like to focus on building a personal relationship of trust between the two of us,” Ishiba said ahead of his meeting with Trump, underscoring the importance of strong diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

The visit also holds symbolic weight. Ishiba, who became prime minister in October, is working to establish a strong rapport with Trump, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, the late Shinzo Abe. Abe had cultivated a close relationship with Trump during his presidency, often bonding over rounds of golf.

Beyond trade, the leaders discussed strengthening the U.S.-Japan security alliance, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Japan’s defense under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Trump and Ishiba specifically addressed regional threats, including North Korea’s ongoing nuclear ambitions and China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

The meeting also focused on deepening economic cooperation beyond traditional trade. The leaders discussed expanding U.S.-Japan collaboration in key industries such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductor development. Both countries pledged to enhance supply chain resilience and counter-economic coercion from adversarial nations.

Energy security was another focal point, with Trump and Ishiba committing to increasing U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to Japan and developing advanced nuclear technologies. The leaders also highlighted their countries’ continued collaboration in space exploration, particularly through the Artemis lunar program. In a gesture of goodwill, Ishiba invited Trump to visit Japan, a proposal that the U.S. president accepted.

FBI investigations on Trump

During the post-meeting press conference, Trump unexpectedly shifted gears to address domestic issues, stating that he intends to fire certain FBI agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. “I’ll fire some of them because some of them were corrupt,” Trump said. “It will be done quickly, and very surgically.”

His comments reflect his ongoing grievances with federal law enforcement agencies, which have been at the center of multiple investigations into his actions before and after the 2020 election.