Trump News : “I wish I was as handsome as him, but I’m not,” Trump

US Desk:  At their meeting at the White House on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed a “new golden age” for U.S.-Japan relations.

Many in Japan had been concerned about Ishiba’s ability to establish a rapport with the unpredictable Trump during their crucial first meeting, particularly in light of the U.S. president’s initial foreign policy actions that have shook both allies and enemies.

However, the leaders praised one another, with Trump showing Ishiba a picture of them in the Oval Office earlier to start their joint news conference. Trump joked, “I wish I was as handsome as him, but I’m not.” He went on to emphasize that the US is “totally committed” to Japan’s security and promised to deepen its economic relations with the country.

Voice of America added that Ishiba’s visit comes amid Tokyo’s concern at what Trump has said to some U.S. allies and partners: He has said he wants to absorb Canada as a U.S. state, acquire Greenland from Denmark and take control of the Panama Canal.

“We would like to first establish a higher relationship of trust and cooperation between two countries, especially the two leaders,” a senior Japanese government official told reporters during a briefing Thursday.

The U.S. president has imposed new 10% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico — although the latter two have been delayed, at least temporarily. He has warned of possible tariffs against other countries, especially those with whom the U.S. holds a trade deficit, such as Japan.

On Friday, Trump said he would enact reciprocal tariffs on trading partners.

“A country pays so much, it charges us so much, and we do the same, so very reciprocal,” he said.

Ishiba declined to say whether he will retaliate.

Other strains on the U.S.-Japan relationship include former President Joe Biden’s blocking of a $15 billion acquisition bid by Japan’s largest steel producer, Nippon Steel, for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel.

Biden blocked the deal during the final weeks of his term, citing national security concerns. Trump has said he also opposes the deal but now appears open to negotiation.

“They’ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase,” Trump said. “We didn’t like the idea. U.S. Steel is a very important company to us.”

Japan agreed to increase investments in key U.S. sectors, as well as purchasing more American liquefied natural gas — important agenda items for Trump.

Continuity on security front

In a Joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific through “multilayered cooperation with like-minded nations.”

Under then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan became a key player in what the Biden administration called a “lattice-like strategic architecture” to bolster deterrence against the two main U.S. adversaries in the Pacific: China and North Korea.

Biden’s approach connected Tokyo with other allies in trilateral formats and other groupings, including with South Korea, Australia and the Philippines, to deter regional threats in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

The Trump administration will continue to support trilateral efforts and some of the working groups that have come out from under those over the last few years, a Trump official said in a briefing to reporters Friday morning.

“There may be some adjustments to where the focus is on trilateral cooperation, but I think largely you will see continuity,” the official said.

During his first term, Trump and then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on the “free and open Indo-Pacific” framework to promote peace and prosperity in the region. The two countries also agreed to elevate what’s known as the Quad grouping with India and Australia. Source : VOA

 

Corporatenews24/Mja