Trump, Abe to discuss trade and defense at White House

By Ercan Canbolat and Sorwar Alam

ANKARA

U.S. President Donald Trump will welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Washington, D.C. Friday to discuss a number of issues, including trade, the economy, technology, infrastructure, and defense, according to the White House.

Trade and currency issues are expected to dominate the leaders’ talks, as Japan’s finance minister, foreign minister, and trade minister are accompanying Abe, according to Japanese media.

“Abe will seek to discuss with Trump ways to bolster bilateral trade and investment for the economic benefit of the wider Asia-Pacific region,” the Japan Times reported, citing government officials.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters Thursday that the two leaders will hold a joint press conference following their face-to-face meeting.

Japanese media reported on Abe arriving in the U.S. capital for his first meeting with Trump since the former reality TV star was sworn in last month.

The paper said the leaders were scheduled to fly to Palm Beach, Florida where they are expected to play a round of golf.

White House officials said the meeting was evidence of strong bilateral cooperation and trade ties.

“I hope this summit meeting will be a message (to the world) that the Japan-U.S. alliance will be stronger and tougher,” the newspaper quoted Abe telling reporters before boarding a government plane in Tokyo.

Abe is expected to propose a comprehensive economic cooperation plan called the “Japan-U.S. growth and employment initiative.”

The initiative covers five areas of bilateral cooperation: infrastructure, robot technology, artificial intelligence, cyber and space research, and cooperation in defense.

Abe will also propose to Trump the creation of a $450 billion market through railways and other infrastructure investments in the U.S. to generate 700,000 jobs, according to Yomiuri Shimbun, another Japanese daily.

Japan aims to “replace as many as 3,000 train wagons currently in use on the U.S. railways and subways with the new models over the next 10 years,” the daily said.

Japanese automaker Toyota is expected to announce a significant investment during Abe’s America visit.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss sharing the price tag for U.S. troops in Japan as well as threats from North Korea and China’s military activities in the South China Sea.