Imperial greeting: Trump being welcomed by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. — AFP
Donald Trump arrived in Japan, on the next leg of an Asia tour that could see the US president and China’s Xi Jinping end their bruising trade war.
Speaking on Air Force One yesterday, Trump said he was hopeful of a deal when he sees Xi on Thursday, while also indicating he was willing to extend his trip in order to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to, I think ... come away with a deal,” Trump told reporters en route from Malaysia, where comments from US and Chinese negotiators raised hopes of an accord.
As dozens of people gathered at Haneda Airport to take photos, the presidential plane – also bearing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – touched down at sunset.
Sporting a golden tie, Trump then boarded a helicopter to take him into the bright lights of the Japanese metropolis in time for an evening audience with the emperor.
Trump is expected to meet new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today and make a speech on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, docked at the US naval base Yokosuka.
“I hear phenomenal things. (Takaichi) was a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend,” Trump said, referring to the assassinated former premier.
“That really helps Japan and the United States, I think she’s going to be great.”
Trump’s Asia trip, his first tour of the region since returning to office, kicked off in Malaysia on Sunday with a flurry of deals.
He sealed trade pacts with Cambodia and Thailand after co-signing their ceasefire at the Asean summit, inked a minerals deal with Malaysia and mended ties with Brazil’s President Lula da Silva. But the greatest prize for Trump – and for global markets – remains a China deal.
Trump is due to meet Xi on Thursday in South Korea for their first face-to-face talks since he returned to the White House.
Before Trump’s arrival in Malaysia, Bessent and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng held two days of trade talks.
China’s vice-commerce minister, Li Chenggang, said a “preliminary consensus” had been reached.
On Friday, Takaichi announced in her first policy speech that Japan would be spending 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence this fiscal year.
But Washington, which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan, wants Tokyo to spend even more, potentially matching the 5% of GDP pledged by Nato members in June.
Most Japanese imports into the United States are subject to tariffs of 15%, less painful than the 25% first threatened.
But Trump also wants Japan to import more American products, including rice, soybeans and cars, as well as “hot” Ford F-150 pickup trucks.
He is due in the South Korean city of Busan tomorrow ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, and will meet President Lee Jae-myung.
Trump has also fuelled speculation that he could meet North Korea’s Kim while on the Korean peninsula.
“I would love to meet with him if he’d like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong-un. I liked him. He liked me,” Trump said.
Asked if he would extend his trip to enable a meeting, he said: “Well, I hadn’t thought of it, but I think the answer would be yeah, I would, I would do that, sure.” — AFP
