Trump announces first package of Japanese investments in the United States

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced Japan’s first investments in energy and base minerals projects, as the two countries move forward with their trade deal ahead of Prime Minister Sanai Takaishi’s visit to the United States.

“Japan is currently formally and financially moving forward with the first set of investments under its $550 billion commitment to invest in the United States,” Trump said on Truth Social.

He explained that these investments include three projects: one in oil and gas in Texas, the second related to electricity generation in Ohio, and the third related to rare earth in Georgia.

The Japanese press reported on February 12 that three projects were the focus of advanced discussions for a total investment of about $40 billion.

Trump said the projects would not have been translated into reality without the tariffs.

“This is a very stimulating and historic period for the United States and Japan,” he said.

At the end of July, the two countries announced the signing of a trade deal that would set US tariffs on imported Japanese products at 15%, in exchange for a total investment of $550 billion by Japanese companies.

The protocol of the agreement stipulates that the decision on the destination of Japanese investments in the United States will be left to Washington.

A Japanese-US committee will study the proposed projects, but the choice will be Trump’s.

Once the projects have been selected, Tokyo will be requested to provide the necessary funding within 45 days.

According to the protocol, the Japanese and US will share the proceeds of each project equally until Japan recovers the value of its investments.