The United States and Japan could sign a new trade deal very quickly, according to President Donald Trump, who expressed confidence on Friday that the two countries could work through their differences over and agriculture tariffs.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is in Washington, Mr Trump said: “I think it can go fairly quickly.”
Mr Trump added that the deal could be signed when he , when he will be the first world leader to after he is enthroned.
Both countries have been seeking a quick trade deal, and their negotiators met for a last week ahead of their leaders’ meeting.
Japan’s Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer met on Thursday in Washington, on the same day that Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had a discussion about linking trade and currencies.
Japan wants its steel and aluminium to be exempted from US tariffs imposed last year, and to dissuade Mr Trump from slapping his threatened 25 per cent tariffs on cars and car parts.
The Trump administration wants to reduce the trade deficit the US has with Japan.
Meanwhile, US exporters have also become relatively disadvantaged after As a result, the remaining 10 members of the trade pact, including agriculture exporters like Canada, have more favourable access to the Japanese market.
“Japan puts very massive tariffs on our agriculture, going for many years, going into Japan. And we want to get rid of those tariffs,” said Mr Trump, who added that the US did not put tariffs on its import of Japanese cars.
Mr Abe corrected him later, saying that Japan has put no tariffs on American cars but the US had, in contrast, put a 2.5 per cent tariff on Japanese cars.
The Prime Minister also reminded Mr Trump that Japan was America’s top investor, and that the US$23 billion (S$31 billion) in investments announced by Japanese businesses would create 43,000 jobs in the US. Japanese car companies in particular were investing a lot, acknowledged Mr Trump, who cited Toyota’s plans to invest US$13 billion over five years in car manufacturing in several states in the Rust Belt and the South.
Speaking through a translator, Mr Abe said: “In any case, we would like to proceed with the further negotiation that we are now having for that. We’ll see a mutually beneficial outcome for both of our countries.”
Mr Trump struck a similarly optimistic tone, saying: “Ultimately, we have a chance to make a very good and long-term trade deal with Japan.”
Both leaders were effusive in their praise for each other despite their trade differences, with Mr Abe saying that he looked forward to a Saturday morning round of golf with Mr Trump, and Mr Trump twice calling the Japanese leader his friend.
Mr Trump’s upcoming state visit will show that “the bond between Japan and the United States, under our alliance, will remain unwavering”, said Mr Abe. Mr Trump said that they would discuss North Korea in the meetings immediately after their comments to the media.
The two leaders were also expected to discuss energy cooperation, digital connectivity and infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior administration official told reporters on Thursday.
Mr Trump is expected to visit Japan again in June to attend the Group of 20 summit in Osaka.
