Determined to strike a chord with Trump to improve his political standing at home, Ishiba arrived at the White House with promises to increase Japanese investment in the U.S., to cooperate on AI, semiconductors and defense and to work quickly to rebalance a trade deficit that favors Japan.

Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington Friday.

Trump however pressed Ishiba to cut the US trade deficit with Japan to zero and warned that Tokyo could still face tariffs on exported goods if it fails to do so. Ishiba, an avowed “geek” and model warship fan, has been under pressure to replicate Trump’s close relationship with former premier and golf buddy, Shinzo Abe.

Trump’s meeting with Japan’s prime minister ended with a tariff warning, but praise from the Japanese side eased tensions.

President Donald Trump on Friday threatened tariffs on Japanese goods if the US trade deficit with Tokyo is not equalized, as he met Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington.

US President Donald Trump welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on Friday and said the two countries would work to cut Washington’s trade deficit with Tokyo amid escalatin

Another sensitive issue Ishiba was expected to address in the leaders’ private talkswas Japan’s Nippon Steel’s efforts to win approval for a $14.1 billion acquisition of the

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on Friday and said the two countries would work to cut Washington's trade deficit with Tokyo amid escalating trade tensions threatening to rupture the global economy.