A file picture of the U.S. President Donald Trump. Picture: Getty Photos through AFP
President Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) introduced Japan’s deliberate investments in U.S. power and demanding minerals tasks, the primary tranche below a bilateral commerce pact, forward of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Washington go to.
The commitments quantity to $36 billion, the U.S. Commerce Division stated in a separate assertion.
The tasks they cowl are a pure fuel facility in Ohio, a crude oil export facility within the Gulf of Mexico, and an artificial industrial diamond manufacturing facility, the division added on social media.
“Japan is now formally, and financially, transferring ahead with the FIRST set of Investments below its $550 BILLION Greenback Dedication to spend money on the USA of America,” Mr. Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform.
The U.S. chief didn’t present additional particulars on the financing of the tasks, or specify which corporations can be concerned.
However the Commerce Division provided extra info, noting that the Ohio facility is predicted to generate 9.2 gigawatts of energy.
The artificial industrial diamond manufacturing facility — which Mr. Trump indicated can be in Georgia — will “onshore manufacturing 100% of U.S. demand for artificial diamond grit,” the division added.
It famous that that is “a crucial enter for superior industrial and technological manufacturing.”
In the meantime, the crude oil export facility is about to generate $20–$30 billion yearly in U.S. crude exports, stated the Commerce Division.
Mr. Trump’s Fact Social publish initially stated Japan’s funding would cowl a liquefied pure fuel facility.
In July, Tokyo had agreed to take a position $550 billion via 2029 “to rebuild and broaden core American industries,” in response to the White Home.
The pledge was made in trade for decreasing threatened U.S. tariffs of 25% to fifteen% on Japanese imports.
However Japanese commerce minister Ryosei Akazawa has stated that just one to 2% of the $550 billion can be precise capital.
The remaining will probably be made up of bonds and loans from the Japan Financial institution for Worldwide Cooperation (JBIC) and credit assured by the Japanese state.
The clock has been ticking forward of Ms. Takaichi’s deliberate White Home go to on March 19, and in response to media experiences, tempers have been beginning to fray.
The rollout of the commerce and financial settlement is prone to be a key merchandise on the agenda for Ms. Takaichi’s anticipated assembly with Trump.
For now, Mr. Trump touted the progress made by each nations.
“The size of those tasks are so giant, and couldn’t be completed with out one very particular phrase, TARIFFS,” he wrote on social media on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).
Printed – February 18, 2026 05:02 am IST