TOKYO: Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Monday (Oct 27), the next leg of an Asia tour that could see the US president and China's Xi Jinping end their bruising trade war.
Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful of a deal when he sees Xi on Thursday in South Korea, while also indicating he was willing to extend his trip in order to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
"I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to I think... come away with a deal," Trump told reporters en route from Malaysia, where comments from US and Chinese trade negotiators raised hopes of an accord.
As dozens of people gathered at Haneda Airport to take photos, the presidential plane - also bearing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent - touched down at sunset.
Sporting a golden tie, Trump then boarded a helicopter to take him into the bright lights of the Japanese metropolis in time for an evening audience with the emperor.
On Tuesday, Trump is expected to meet new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and make a speech on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, docked at the US naval base Yokosuka.
"I hear phenomenal things. (Takaichi) was a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend," Trump said, referring to the assassinated former Japanese premier.
"That really helps Japan and the United States, I think she's going to be great."
MARKETS WATCHING
Trump's Asia trip, his first tour of the region since returning to office, kicked off in Malaysia on Sunday with a flurry of agreements.
That included rewarding neighbours Cambodia and Thailand with trade agreements after co-signing their ceasefire pact on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
He also agreed a trade and minerals deal with Malaysia, and moved to mend fences with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
But the greatest prize for Trump - and for global markets - remains a China deal.
Trump is due to meet Xi on Thursday in South Korea for their first face-to-face talks since the 79-year-old Republican's return to the White House.
Before Trump's arrival in Malaysia, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China's Vice Premier He Lifeng had already held two days of trade talks, seeking an agreement to avoid additional 100 per cent tariffs due to come into effect on Nov 1.
China's vice commerce minister, Li Chenggang, said a"preliminary consensus" had been reached.
Bessent told ABC the extra tariffs had been averted, and signalled a deal on rare earths and American soybean exports had been reached.
"It's going to be great for China, great for us," Trump told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
HOT TRUCKS
On Friday, Takaichi announced in her first policy speech that Japan would be spending two per cent of gross domestic product on defence this fiscal year.
But Washington, which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan, wants Tokyo to spend even more, potentially matching the five per cent of GDP pledged by NATO members in June.
Most Japanese imports into the United States are subject to tariffs of 15 per cent, less painful than the 25 per cent first threatened.
But Trump also wants Japan to import more American products, including rice, soybeans and cars, as well as"hot" Ford F-150 pickup trucks.
Questions also surround Japan's commitment to invest US$550 billion in the United States, as specified in their July trade deal.
"What I expect is that, since he (Trump) is someone who acts decisively, things might move in a positive direction for Japan," said Tokyo resident Sayaka Kamimoto, 45.
KIM MEETING?
Trump is due in the South Korean port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and will meet President Lee Jae Myung.
Trump has also fuelled speculation that he could meet North Korea's Kim while on the Korean peninsula.
The two leaders last met in 2019 at the Demilitarised Zone, the border area separating the two Koreas.
"I would love to meet with him if he'd like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him. He liked me," Trump said on Air Force One.
Asked if he would extend his trip to enable a meeting, he said:"Well, I hadn't thought of it, but I think the answer would be yeah, I would, I would do that, sure."
"WOULD LOVE" TO MEET KIM
Trump is due in the southern port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and will meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Global markets will be watching closely to see if Thursday's meeting with Xi can halt the trade war sparked by Trump's sweeping tariffs, especially after a recent dispute over Beijing's rare earth curbs.
Trump has also fuelled speculation that he could meet North Korea's Kim while on the Korean peninsula.
The two leaders last met in 2019 at the Demilitarised Zone, the border area separating the two Koreas.
"I would love to meet with him if he'd like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him. He liked me," Trump said on Air Force One.
Asked if he would extend his trip to enable a meeting, he said:"Well, I hadn't thought of it, but I think the answer would be yeah, I would, I would do that, sure."
