US officials aim to secure a flurry of deals to boost American energy exports and diversify critical mineral supplies at talks with Asian counterparts in Japan this weekend, as the Iran conflict pushes up oil and gas prices.
The meeting will result in at least US$30bil (RM117bil) in purchase commitments and other agreements spanning coal, oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear power, Bloomberg News reported.
Organised before the Iran conflict erupted, the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo was co-hosted by US President Donald Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) and Japan.
More than a dozen US government representatives were set to be present, with some 18 nations represented including Australia, Bangladesh and South Korea.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s attendance was reportedly cancelled at the last minute because of the Middle East crisis, with Brent Crude over US$100 (RM392) per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.
“Building strong partnerships with our Indo-Pacific allies is essential to advancing President Donald J. Trump’s vision for American Energy Dominance,” US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said.
The aim is to “strengthen energy security, expand US energy exports and counter the coercive influences of China and Russia,” Burgum said in a statement.
The meeting comes ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi travelling to Washington for what she has said will be “candid” talks with Trump on March 19.
Japan pledged last year to invest US$550bil in the United States in return for lowering threatened tariffs of 25% to 15%.
The promises remain valid even after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs in February and he imposed a new blanket 10% duty on imports.
Tokyo and Washington announced before that ruling a first tranche of US$36bil in investments for three infrastructure projects; more may be revealed next week.
Takaichi is also expected to announce Tokyo’s participation in the “Golden Dome” US missile and satellite defence system trumpeted by Trump, Japan’s Yomiuri daily reported yesterday. — AFP
