Overview

• President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met at the White House to strengthen U.S.-Japan ties and address economic and security issues.
• Japan's Nippon Steel agreed to invest heavily in U.S. Steel, following a blocked acquisition under both Trump and Biden due to national security concerns.
• The two leaders pledged to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, with Japan committing to double its defense spending by 2027.
• Discussions included potential joint ventures in Alaska's energy sector and increased Japanese imports of American liquefied natural gas.
• Trump emphasized his goal of reducing the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, while also reiterating his stance on tariffs as a means to ensure fair trade.