Is Japan’s US$550-billion promise to Trump just a ‘signing bonus’ with strings attached?

SCMP · 2026-02-12
Is Japan’s US$550-billion promise to Trump just a ‘signing bonus’ with strings attached?

Despite US President Donald Trump having congratulated Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her recent election triumph, Tokyo is under pressure to deliver on colossal investments promised in the United States. Ahead of the possible announcement of the first projects this week and Takaichi’s sch