Shigeru Ishiba said Nippon Steel will make an investment in Us Steel after his meeting with Donald Trump
Japanese prime minister, Shigeru ishibasaid Sunday that Japan and the United States will cooperate closely in terms of Security, Defense and Economicsafter his meeting with the US president, Donald Trumpin Washington.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stability in the Indo -Pacific region and highlighted the importance of strengthening the capacity of deterrence of their alliance. Trump emphasized that cooperation between the two powers must guarantee peace and security “through force”according to statements collected by the Japanese public chain NHK.
In the economic field, Isthiba stressed that Japan has been the main foreign investor in the United States during the last five years and committed to Increase investment until reaching billion dollars.
In response, Trump stressed the need for Reduce the trade deficit of 100,000 million dollars with Japandescribing this effort as a matter of “equality.” Both leaders also agreed to expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and energy security.
After the meeting, Ishiba confirmed that Nippon Steel will make an investment in US Steelbut without specifying a total purchase of the company. “It is not an acquisition. US Steel will continue to be an American company, managed by Americans and with US employees”, Said Ishiba.
These statements are aligned with Trump’s position, who had expressed his opposition to the sale of the American historic American steel to a foreign company.
Nippon Steel’s interest in Us Steel had generated controversy since its initial offer of 14.9 billion dollars In 2023. the administration of the then president Joe Biden He blocked the operation in March 2024, arguing that a foreign company should not control a strategic sector for the United States economy. Trump, even before his return to the presidency, was also contrary to the purchase.
The decision of discard purchase and opt for an investment He ends a dispute that tense relations between Japan and the United States in the midst of the US electoral process.
Trump said the permanence of US Steel As an American company, it was fundamental not only from an economic perspective, but also as a “psychological concept” that preserves the industrial identity of the country.
Although neither Nippon Steel nor Us Steel have issued an official pronouncement on this change of plans, the American steel thanked Trump for his interest in ensuring a “prosperous future” for the company.
According to Bloombergthe CEO of Us Steel, David Burritthe warned Trump that Block the sale could put thousands of jobs at risk and the permanence of the headquarters in Pittsburgh, a city with a strong legacy in the steel industry.
In addition to the economic issue, Isthiba addressed other regional security issues with Trump and assured that Japan will not accept negotiations that treat North Korea as a nuclear power And he said Trump did not ask Tokyo an increase in the defense budget. He also mentioned that the US President expressed his desire to visit Japan again, although there is still no concrete date for the trip.
(With information from Europa Press and EFE)
