Japanese Prime Minister Isbaiba and US President Donald Trump spoke warmly at their first meeting on Friday. Tokyo avoided tariffs that Trump slapped other allies.
The two leaders, who praised each other in the White House, have pledged to oppose China's “attack” and say they have found a solution to a blocked deal for troubled US steel I did.
But Trump pressed Isba to cut his trade deficit with the US to zero, warning that if Tokyo does not do so, he could still face tariffs on exports.
A fair “geek” and model warship fan, Isba is under pressure to replicate the close relationship between Trump and his former prime minister and fellow golfer Shinzo Abbey.
Both leaders claimed they struck a relationship of trust during the second visit by foreign leaders in Trump's new term.
“I was very excited to see such celebrities in person on TV,” Isba told a joint press conference, saying he was “not trying to suck it up.”
“On TV, he has a scary, very strong personality. But when I met him, he was very sincere and very strong.”
When they exchanged photos, Trump praised the 68-year-old Japanese prime minister as “good looking.” This is usually one of the greatest admirations of former reality TV stars.
And when the US President laughed and said, “That's a very good answer,” Isba said he couldn't answer a “theoretical question” about whether he would retaliate against US tariffs.
Meanwhile, Trump said that Japanese steel will make a big investment in US steel, but will not take over a troubled company like previously negotiated.
“They're going to look at investing rather than buying,” Trump said. His predecessor, Joe Biden, had blocked the deal.
And two leaders doubled the US connection decades ago in security and trade despite fears that Trump could turn on Tokyo like other US allies. I've done it.
– Trump agreed to fight “China's economic invasion” and in a joint statement they denounced Beijing for “provocative activities” in the contested South China Sea.
They also met with leader Kim Jong-un in his first term, and said he wanted to “relate” to Pyongyang, but they also said that he would like to have a denuclearized North Korea. I asked.
Behind Trump's statement of support was Japan's commitment to boost the US $100 million investment and Japan's purchase of US defense equipment.
Isba said his country is the largest investor in the United States and will step up its spending.
Isba, a gentle-speaking cigarette smoker, rushed to Washington, hoping to blunt the edges of Trump's “America First” policy.
Under Abe, Japan was protected from some of Trump's more punishing tendencies, including a sudden trade war and pressure to increase financial contributions to American soldiers.
A few days after Trump's first election victory, Abe rushed to deliver a gold-plated golf club to him. Trump also hosted Abe's widow Akie for dinner at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in December.
So far, the US president has slapped tariffs in China and ordered them in Mexico and Canada before halting for a month.
He also pledged tariffs in the European Union and said he would announce unspecified “mutual tariffs” next week on Friday.
