Trump says Japan trade talks coming along 'very nicely'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Trade talks between the U.S. and Japan are "moving along very nicely," President Donald Trump said Friday.

Trump struck an upbeat tone at the White House while hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying the negotiations "can go very quickly".

“We have a very big trade negotiation going on right now with Japan,” Trump said. “And the other thing we will be discussing is trade as it relates to our two countries."

Trump pointed specifically to agriculture, on which he said Japan is "massively" imposing tariffs, and said the U.S. does not "tariff their cars, so I think it’s something we’ll work out”.

The U.S. and Japan have been engaged in trade talks since September focused on agricultural and auto products. Japan is the U.S.'s fourth largest trading partner

The leaders are expected to address a bevy of issues, including efforts to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear arms, during their two-day meeting, and Trump said he and Abe will play golf Saturday.

For his part, Abe said Japanese businesses have invested $23 billion in the U.S. since Trump assumed office in 2017 which supports 43,000 jobs.