Japan is assessing an investment of a $ 44 billion natural gas pipeline in Alaska because it tries to reduce the concerns of US President Donald Trump for its large bilateral trade surplus.
The support for liquefied natural gas pipelines will be a few actions to avoid potential trade frictions. Three officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Sources said that officials in Tokyo estimate that Trump may raise the project, and he said that the prosperity and security of the United States was the key. At that time, he first met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington next week.
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Japan The proposed 800 mile pipeline -It is to connect the fields in northern Alaska with a port in the south, where natural gas will be liquefied and transported to Asian customers, because the overall cost of natural gas is relative to other sources. Officials said, but if someone asked, it was going to propose to explore the transaction.
$ 56 billion in trade deficit
Tokyo may include the commitment to other franchisees, such as buying more US gasoline and increasing national defense expenditure and manufacturing investment in the United States to reduce bilateral trade deficits of $ 56 billion and avoid Threat of TariffsOne of them said.
The White House did not immediately respond to comments on the meeting. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed that it was too early to discuss this matter.
It has not been reported in the past that Japan may be interested in the Alaska project. Officials speak in an anonymous situation because they have no right to talk to the media.
In the administrative order signed by Trump on January 20, a promise promised to release Alaska's resource potential, “including selling and transportation of Alaska LNG to other parts of other regions in other parts of the United States and allies in the Pacific.”
Trump constitutes a victory in natural gas projects, which is the victory of Alaska and the United States for stable energy in Asia. However, Japan can already use liquefied natural gas. Its company traded about 38 million tons last year, more than half of domestic consumption.
Nevertheless, Alaska's pipelines can still help Japan diversify from Russia and other risk resources, Russia accounted for one -tenth of its natural gas imports and one -tenth of the Middle East.
Ishiba said in Parliament on Friday that although Japan needs to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, “we should ask for some things that the United States requires in stable energy supply.” He did not provide specific details, nor did he mention the Alaska project.
Officials warn that Isbang will not be able to make a firm commitment to liquefaction natural gas, including investing in the Alaska project when encountering Trump. The fourth official said that any transaction must provide reasonable pricing and flexibility, including allowing Japanese buyers to buy the liquefied natural gas they purchased.
Tariff threat
Trump's tariffs on foreign goods have been responsible However, since he returned to the White House, his economic and security information with Japan has hardly disclosed. But this theme occupies political topics in Japanese political discourse. This is the main allies and the highest foreign investors in the United States. During Trump's first term, his tariffs on steel imports and he asked Tokyo to pay more Pay more for the US military.
Tokyo's media focused on whether Islama, which became the Prime Minister and is responsible for the ethnic government last year, can copy the bonds forging with Trump in his first term with Trump in his first term.
Abe was assassinated in 2022. He was the first foreign leader who met Trump after the victory of the 2001 election in 2001. The two became intimate confidants and golf partners.
In the absence of Trump's inner circle, the Ishiba government sought lawyers connecting with Japan and Trump from US legislators and policy experts. Among them, Bill Hages, Senator in Tennessee, the former US Ambassador to Tokyo, and the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, Kenneth Weinstein.
Energy partnership
Winstan told Reuters that he encouraged Japan to deepen its energy partnership with the United States, and the Alaska project needs to consider it carefully. HAGERTY's office did not answer questions.
Tokyo's businessman Ado Machida served in Trump's transition team after the 2016 election.
Micham said: “Trump will want to know what Japan will do for him.” He added that he had talked with Japanese government officials.
National banks such as Japan's International Cooperation Bank (JBIC) can provide financing for Alaska projects, such as Mitsubishi CORP and Mitsui & Co and other trading companies. Japan depends on one of the overseas officials who protect oil and natural gas and coal reserves. This is an official.
In 2022, Mitsubishi reached an agreement with the state -owned company Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), a state -owned company responsible for evaluating the LNG proposal to evaluate the feasibility of producing ammonia there. Mitsubishi is not committed to the project except for evaluation.
Mitsubishi and Mitsui refused to comment on the potential investment and discussions of the Alaska LNG project. JBIC said that considering any factors such as Japanese companies, it will consider providing support on the case.
AGDC spokesman said in a statement issued to Reuters that it had negotiated the project with Japanese energy leaders without providing specific details.
The project was first approved during the early term of Trump. Although the environmental protection organization opposed it, the project was authorized by the Federal Energy Supervision Commission in 2020 and was approved by the final legal approval in 2022.
AGDC said this month that it has reached an agreement with the developer Glenfarne to promote the pipeline.
- Jim Pollard's additional editor -in -law
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