Tariffs, sumo and the Super Bowl: Donald Trump hosts Shinzo Abe, says US and Japan could reach trade deal by May
- Leaders spoke one on one in Oval Office before White House dinner to celebrate Melania Trump’s birthday
- Trump upbeat on negotiations ahead of his Tokyo trip, but tariffs on cars and agricultural goods may prove tricky
US President Donald Trump said on Friday it is possible that the United States and Japan could reach a new bilateral trade deal by the time he visits Tokyo in May, but he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cited areas where they differ on trade.
Trump and Abe held one-on-one talks in the Oval Office before a White House dinner to celebrate the birthday of Trump’s wife, Melania. While making progress in negotiations with China on a new trade deal, Trump made clear he wants to seal a new agreement with Japan soon as well.
Abe’s visit, which is to include a round of golf on Saturday with Trump, is to set the stage for a trip to Japan that Trump is taking in late May to celebrate Crown Prince Naruhito’s becoming the new emperor of Japan.
“We will also be going perhaps to a sumo wrestling match,” Trump said. “We are going to give the trophy to the winner of the championship.”