No surprise
- Strengthening resolve to denuclearize N. Korea. Trump said, "the era of strategic patience is over"
- Trade enhancement. Open up Indo-Pacific region including relations with Japan and other countries like India and Australia. The President reminded Japan that the US still had a "massive trade deficit with Japan.
- Promoting new investments in the US (that will promote US jobs).
No real surprises.
Japan PM Abe and Trump played 9-holes of golf together (recall they played on Trump's courses at the start of his term during Abe's visit). Abe also made sure that Trump was served a hamburger with American beef and I think I saw the Japan waiter pouring the President a Diet Coke at one of the dinners. Trump does not drink alcohol. That's hospitality.
Needless to say, with N. Korean tensions, Japan needs US and with Trumps desire to create new jobs, Trump would like Japan to invest even more in the US. Note however, that Japan already makes 75% of the Japanese cars sold in the US, in the the US using US workers. Nevertheless, there is always room for trade improvement and lower deficits in the President's eyes and he is not known to back down.
