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TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his might avoid higher U.S. tariffs, stating President Donald Trump had actually “recognised” Japan’s big investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it produces.

At his very first White House summit on Friday, Ishiba informed public broadcaster NHK, he explained to Trump how many Japanese car manufacturers were creating tasks in the United States.

The 2 did not specifically talk about car tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would undergo the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has actually said he plans to trouble imports.

Tokyo has up until now got away the trade war Trump let loose in his very first weeks in workplace. He has actually revealed tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China, although he delayed the 25% responsibilities on his North American neighbours to allow for talks.

The intensifying trade stress since Trump returned to the White House on January 20 threaten to burst the global economy.

Ishiba said he believes Trump “recognised the reality Japan has actually been the world’s biggest investor in the United States for 5 straight years, and is for that reason different from other nations.“

"Japan is producing lots of U.S. tasks. I think (Washington) will not go straight to the concept of higher tariffs,” he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can avoid a tit-for-tat tariff war, worrying that tariffs must be put in location in such a way that “advantages both sides”.

"Any action that exploits or omits the other side will not last,” Ishiba said. “The question is whether there is any problem between Japan and the United States that requires imposing higher tariffs,” he included.

Japan had the greatest foreign direct investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, followed by Canada and Germany, according to the most recent U.S. Commerce Department data.

Trump pressed Ishiba to close Japan’s $68.5 billion yearly trade surplus with Washington however revealed optimism this might be done rapidly, given a promise by Ishiba to bring Japanese financial investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied gas, steel, AI and vehicles as areas that Japanese companies might invest in.

He also discussed Trump’s guarantee to look at Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, instead of buying the storied American company - a prepared purchase opposed by Trump and obstructed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to make sure that it remains an American business. It will continue to run under American management, with American employees,” Ishiba said. “The essential point is how to ensure it remains an American company. From President Trump’s viewpoint, this is of utmost value.“

On military spending, another location where Trump has pushed allies for increases, Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget without first winning public backing. “It is important to ensure that what is deemed essential is something the taxpayers can comprehend and support,” he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly