Trump says sees possibility of U.S.-Japan trade deal by May

"Don't worry about Kim, Shinzo. I've got him right where I want him: doing construction at nuclear sites and driving around in limos by Daimler and Benz. 8-D chess, my friend." said Trump.

Hahaha, Abe is the most shrewd politicians on the planet. He is untouchable, as simple as that. Abe will drag North Korea problem on and on until he gets away with all the problems he has. Soon, Abe will send a high level delegation to US for the abduction case, of course unrelated to trade.

Akie, sorry, but I don't think Abe is shrewd, especially not the most on the planet for sure. Me thinks Kim Jong Un is playing both Abe and Trump so that would make him shrewd, but then of course given the level of intellect both Trump and Abe have, it's not saying much. So I pose these questions, mostly rhetorical, to you. Why should Abe send a high level delegation to the U.S. to discuss the abduction case? That's a problem between Kim and Abe, who incidentally hasn't made any progress at all. Why should Trump bring up the abduction case to Kim if he risks sabotaging his own glorified talks? How do you know if Trump will even broach the subject given his tendency to hold secret talks without anyone else in the room. Nope, Abe won't even come out with a good trade agreement, and he knows it too, so it's all about posturing and enjoying golf during golden week. Business as usual.

U.S.-Japan friction about trade mounted after Trump took office and started seeking to fix a chronic trade imbalance totaling $67.6 billion in Japan's favor last year, according to U.S. figures.

There wouldn't have been a trade problem with Japan if Trump hadn't torn up the TPP.

Now countries like New Zealand and Canada are benefiting from Trump's idiocy.

CrazyJoe: "There wouldn't have been a trade problem with Japan if Trump hadn't torn up the TPP."

Yes and no. You're forgetting that Abe and Japan kept delaying the agreement for so long they waited until Trump got it. It would have passed Under Obama if they had.

In any case, I like how Abe thinks he has any sway at all with Trump -- I think honestly he is the only person Trump does NOT respect (he's not a dictator) and whom he can manipulate with ease and win every time. I mean, Kim walked all over Trump and the US and the US got NOTHING with him. And as we've seen with Trump getting zero of what he wants with Kim and him STILL defending and loving Kim (even while he double deals with Putin), Abe certainly can't depend on Trump to bail him out on his ten millionth vow to solve the abductee issue.

This is how democratic, honest and logical nations do deals. The deal will be very favorable for both nations. More Japanese cars sold in USA, and probably more US Soybean, meat and some fruits in Japan. Win-Win.Other nations, take notes.

And Happy Birthday Mrs Trump! PM Abe and Mrs Abe will have a fabulous time at the huge banquet. Several hours of non stop eating and partying, I’m jealous!!

I mean, Kim walked all over Trump and the US and the US got NOTHING with him.

And Kim didn’t get the one thing he and his father and grandfather got, “sanction relief.”

And as we've seen with Trump getting zero of what he wants with Kim and him STILL defending and loving Kim (even while he double deals with Putin), Abe certainly can't depend on Trump to bail him out on his ten millionth vow to solve the abductee issue.

No missiles launched over Japan, No missiles launched over the US, Kim and Trump still talking and negotiating, that’s progress and better than going name calling and then going to war.

"limos by Daimler and Benz."

Why not? They made limos for Hitler and VW is making cars for the CCP. Thank god Japan is not like Germany as so many people scream.

Like Mozart at the Piano. Shinzo Abe is playing Trump like a piano. There is only 8 months until the next US Presidential cycle, Abe will delay and flatter Trump until then. Well played Abe Well played. Music to Japan's ears.

Abe will send a high level delegation to US for the abduction case, of course unrelated to trade.

why do Japanese keep flogging this issue what will AMerica do that Japan cant. Trump cant even get Kim to give up his nukes why would he want to even make an effort to give Japan its citizens back. Abe can't give NK the concessions it wants and its doubtful Trump would allow Abe to give them any unless it includes denuclearization.

And Kim didn’t get the one thing he and his father and grandfather got, “sanction relief.”

yet they still have their nukes

No missiles launched over Japan, No missiles launched over the US

yet they still have their nukes, testing sites being rebuilt , more launching coming soon, then what , what is America going to take away then. Lets face it Trump cant do anymore that what previous POTUS could unless he declares all out war. Even Trump isnt stupid enough to realise the ramifications of that.

Lol, Trump should've stayed in TPP and now anything they agree upon can be undone what an unskilled person. Just rude it out Abe, the Japan USA alliance deserves more than this unskilled person understands.

This is how democratic, honest and logical nations do deals. The deal will be very favorable for both nations. More Japanese cars sold in USA, and probably more US Soybean, meat and some fruits in Japan. Win-Win.Other nations, take notes.

And Happy Birthday Mrs Trump! PM Abe and Mrs Abe will have a fabulous time at the huge banquet. Several hours of non stop eating and partying, I’m jealous!!

What did we see this week? Kim meeting with putin and Trump meeting with Abe. Its no coincidence

I agree with @Akie. How else does an unpopular, corrupt, Katsu-don PM who has failed at everything, lied to the world and magically change japan from 2nd to 3rd largest economy still be boss and buy a brand new private jumbo jet? Next he will betray Toyota, fill our roads with crappy American cars and privatize national health insurance to US companies. But he will shout NK abductees before next election and the 36% who voted for him last time will do it again, and he will go on, and on, and on, until we are liberated by China.

With the TPP and the trade agreement with Europe, American agriculture is losing out hugely in trade with Japan, and the farmers - mostly Trump voters - are furious. He has to make a deal or they'll switch Dem in 2020.

Abe knows Trump is now negotiating from a position of great weakness, displaying again Trump's ineptitude at strategy.

That photo shows such chemistry between the two.

Word has it, that now Trump's Nobel Peace prize is off the cards, he's asked good ol' Abey to write another 5 page recommendation for the Literature Prize for excellence in the New World of Tweet Literature.

bass4funk: "And Kim didn’t get the one thing he and his father and grandfather got, “sanction relief.”"

No thanks to Trump! Trump would have given it to them himself. Still doesn't change the fact that he walked all over Trump and the US, does it? or that Trump STILL loves him so much, he even literally used the word "love" towards him and the letter he got from Kim.

"No missiles launched over Japan, No missiles launched over the US, Kim and Trump still talking and negotiating, that’s progress and better than going name calling and then going to war."

New generation weapon just tested recently, no? And as Zichi rightly pointed out, the only reason they agreed not to test more missiles is because they succeeded in their goal before Walking all over Trump. That was why it was so hilarious that you guys and Trump claimed to have "stopped all tests" when the test site was destroyed and the tests already complete. Kim may has well have literally said, "We agree to stop what we have already stopped anyway, for you!" hahaha. You guys, really. No Wonder Putin loves you.

Sorry, guys, but the owner knows that a lapdog is just a pet, even though the pet may see him or herself as far more, and will do anything it can and give all its love to the master.

Trump joked that when Abe originally invited him to Tokyo as the first official guest after the new emperor takes over, he was not sure he could attend.

"I said, 'Gee I don't know if I can make it. Let me ask you a question. How big is that event compared to the Super Bowl, for the Japanese?

Har!

And the prime minister said, It's about 100 times bigger.

Har!

Of course the big trade deal will be the one with China.

I like Trump because what you see is what you get, total transparency. He has plenty of character flaws, but so do all Dems. The problem with Dems is they are opportunist. This Biden guy...changed his tune how many times. Anita Hill...oh kinda sorry but not really.

He said another 4 years of Trump would bring America down. Gee I cant imagine 4 years of Biden. I dont agree with Trump on the N Korea issue, otherwise satisfied and he gets my 2020 vote for sure.

Abe arrived at the White House for talks with Trump in a Chevy Tahoe.

The problem with Reps is that they are dumb just like their dumber hero in the WH.

Well I would argue that Dems are just opportunist. Warren and Sanders are just saying what the people want to hear to get themselves elected. Repatriations, felons in jail get to vote, free college. All of it will never happen. They are just a worthless bunch with no solutions. Trump is just cutting a swath through all of it, and trying to get all that he can done while he is in office. Gotta respect that. Lets just hope he gets re elected.