The announcement came ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming visit to Washington.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Japan is now “officially and financially ready” to begin the first phase of investments pledged under the broader $550 billion commitment.
According to Trump, the initial phase includes three projects: a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Texas, a gas-fired power plant in Ohio, and a critical minerals facility in Georgia. However, he did not provide details on the financing structure or specify which companies would be involved.
Japanese Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters that there remains a “significant gap” between Tokyo and Washington over which projects should be prioritized under the investment package.
The statement from Trump followed Akazawa’s remarks by several days.
According to the White House, Tokyo had agreed last July to invest $550 billion in the United States by 2029 to help rebuild and expand America’s core industrial sectors. The investment is expected to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs for American workers.
The White House also noted that, in return for the investment commitment, the United States agreed to reduce a proposed 25 percent tariff on Japanese imports to 15 percent.
Comments Here: