Strengthen economic ties
\nTrump meets families of Japanese abductees at Tokyo\u2019s Akasaka Guest House
\n Tokyo
\nJapan\u2019s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday unveiled a $550-billion investment package for the United States, signaling a major push to deepen economic ties as she and US President Donald Trump signed a framework agreement to secure supplies of critical minerals and rare earths through mining and processing cooperation, the White House confirmed.
\nThe deal aims to diversify and secure global supply chains through joint mining, processing, and coordinated investment in strategic materials vital to defense and high-tech industries.
\nThe investment package is expected to include projects in shipbuilding and expanded purchases of US soybeans, gas, and pickup trucks, according to officials familiar with the matter.
\nThe signing took place during Trump\u2019s first meeting with Takaichi in Tokyo, where the US president hailed her as a \u201cstrong leader\u201d and praised her rise as Japan\u2019s first female premier. Takaichi, in turn, lauded Trump\u2019s \u201cunwavering commitment to world peace and stability,\u201d vowing to usher in a \u201cnew golden age\u201d of Japan\u2013US relations.
\nUnder the agreement, both countries will use economic policy tools and coordinated investments to develop diversified, transparent, and fair markets for these strategic materials, essential for products ranging from smartphones to fighter jets.
\nTrump, recalling former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s support for Takaichi, said, \u201cHe spoke so well of you long before we met, and I\u2019m not surprised to see you as Prime Minister. He would be very happy to know that.\u201d
\nLater, the two leaders visited the US naval base in Yokosuka, home to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, underscoring the allies\u2019 shared security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region.
\nTrump meets families of Japanese abductees
\nEarlier in the day, Trump met families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s at Tokyo\u2019s Akasaka Guest House.
\nStanding beside Prime Minister Takaichi, Trump vowed to raise the issue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll be discussing it. We always have this in mind because it started with Shinzo Abe, and now Prime Minister Takaichi,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt\u2019s my honor to be with you again, and we will do everything within our power.\u201d
\nJapan maintains that 17 citizens were abducted during that period, five of whom returned in 2002. North Korea claims eight are dead and that four others never entered the country.
\nTrump will meet Japanese business leaders before departing for South Korea on Wednesday (October 29), where he is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in hopes of sealing a trade war truce between the world\u2019s two largest economies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Strengthen economic ties Trump meets families of Japanese abductees at Tokyo\u2019s Akasaka Guest House Tokyo Japan\u2019s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday unveiled a $550-billion investment package for the United States, signaling a major push to deepen economic ties as she and US President Donald Trump signed a framework agreement to secure supplies of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":511322,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-511339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n