He has taken issue with the size of the USA trade deficit with Japan and called for the Japanese market to be more open to US automakers. That includes a promise from Abe that Japanese automakers will create jobs stateside, and that Japanese money and technical know-how will help the US infrastructure spending promised by Trump – including a lighthearted pitch for the maglev trains that have become iconic in Japan.
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With Trump taking on the leadership, Abe said major scale infrastructure investments will be made, including the high-speed train.
Trump said any trading relationship between the two countries must be “free, fair and reciprocal”.
Ahead of his visit to the United States, Abe said to his aides, “The most important thing at the bilateral meeting is to get confirmation that the United States would retaliate if China makes any extraordinary movements”.
At a joint news conference with Mr Abe, Mr Trump avoided repeating harsh campaign rhetoric that accused Japan of taking advantage of United States security aid and stealing American jobs. The Japanese government had been especially wary about Trump making specific demands in connection with the auto industry, but the president did not present any counterarguments to Abe’s explanations.
Mr Abe visited the president-elect at Trump Tower in NY, one of the first foreign leaders to do so.
Mr Abe said he was “fully aware” of Mr Trump’s decision to withdraw from the TPP multilateral trade accord.
Even as the worldwide community remains negative toward Trump, Abe agreed to an unusually warm reception that involved spending nearly two full days with the president, including golf at a resort in Florida.
The two couples touched down in Florida on Friday afternoon and headed straight to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, where they enjoyed a late dinner at its crowded patio restaurant.
That Trump Tower meeting wasn’t the only time Trump and Abe have interacted since he was elected.
Trump gave no indication at Friday’s press conference whether he was considering this step, saying only that they’d continue to work through the court process – and do “whatever is necessary” to protect the country.
With U.S. President Donald Trump apparently set on an “America First” stance even in alliances, his standard for viewing the Japan-U.S. relationship will focus mainly on how it benefits the U.S. economy. The two leaders are scheduled to play a round of golf on Saturday. Mr Trump’s officials said the president was paying for Mr Abe’s visit at his own expense.
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The initial order blocked people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US for at least 90 days and placed four-month hold on resettling refugees, while blocking refugees from Syria indefinitely.
