Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that on Friday he had a formal call with US President Donald Trump regarding the upcoming tariff discussion between both nations. The call, which marked a critical moment in ongoing trade negotiations, was part of Japan’s continued diplomatic engagement with the US on economic matters. Speaking of the interaction, Ishiba confirmed that both leaders agreed upon having a productive discussion and that Japan is committed to maintaining a stable and constructive relationship with the United States.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “Investment, not tariffs.” He further stated that Japan will continue to push Washington to drop all the recent tariffs. At the same time, Ishiba emphasized that Japan stands ready to encourage more Japanese investment in the United States, aiming to create new job opportunities as part of a mutually beneficial economic strategy, reported AP.