Statement by Takeshi Niinami, Chairperson of Keizai Doyukai on Outcome of Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting

February 8, 2025

Takeshi Niinami
Chairperson, Keizai Doyukai

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1. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and United States President Donald Trump had their first
   summit meeting. The two leaders reached an agreement on the unwavering importance of the
   Japan-U.S. Alliance including its deterrence based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, multilateral
   frameworks, and the mutually beneficial broad cooperation in the areas such as artificial
   intelligence and energy. It was a brilliant outcome soon after the inauguration of the new U.S.
   administration. This summit meeting has swept away mounting concerns. We respect Prime
   Minister Ishiba's commitment to the success of the meeting, as well as the efforts of the officials
   involved from Japan and the U.S.
2. As the latest race for global supremacy centers on developing critical technologies such as
   artificial intelligence, leading-edge semiconductors, and quantum computing, confirmation of
   Japan-U.S. cooperation herein is of great significance. We hope to see more investment between
   the two economies that are complementary to each other's strength. An increase of imports of
   U.S. liquefied natural gas will contribute to the stability of Japanese economy that has a low
   energy self-sufficiency ratio. On the tariff front going forward, we must watch the development
   of reciprocal tariffs, featured as being uniform but not unilateral.
3. We appreciate a positive development seen in the U.S. Steel/Nippon Steel deal, which will look
   to investment by the Japanese company to the U.S. counterparty, rather than its acquisition of the
   latter. We expect this deal to prove that the investment of Japanese companies to the U.S. will
   create large benefits to the local economy.
4. This summit meeting has significantly become a first step※1 for the two leaders to build a personal
   trust relationship. We hope that Prime Minister Ishiba will leverage the outcome of this meeting
   for keeping a solid Japan-U.S. relations going forward. While bracing for the uncertainties in the
   international relations, we, business executives, must brush up our own innovation/management
   abilities and furthermore step up ties with U.S. business communities, thereby contributing to
   even more prosperous bilateral relations with the U.S.
   
   ※1 President Trump's post to the Truth Social after the Japan-U.S. summit meeting:
   "For nearly 80 years the American and Japanese people have enjoyed a friendship like few others. After
   our meeting today, I'm confident that the cherished alliances between our two countries will continue to
   flourish long into the future!"

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