Trump Announces First Projects Under $550 Billion Japan Trade Deal

President Donald Trump on Tuesday touted the launch of what he described as a “massive” trade deal with Japan, announcing the first wave of investments under Tokyo’s pledged $550 billion commitment to the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Japan is “officially, and financially, moving forward with the FIRST set of Investments” as part of what he called a historic agreement aimed at revitalizing American industry and strengthening national security.

“America is building again. America is producing again. And America is WINNING again,” Trump wrote.

According to the president, the initial round includes three major projects spanning energy and strategic resources: an oil and gas initiative in Texas, a gas-powered electricity generation facility in Ohio, and a critical minerals processing operation in Georgia.

The Ohio project, which Trump said would be “the largest in History,” is expected to significantly expand domestic power generation capacity. The president also highlighted a liquefied natural gas facility along the Gulf Coast, saying it would boost exports and solidify what he called America’s “energy dominance.”

In Georgia, the administration plans to develop a critical minerals facility designed to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources for key materials used in advanced manufacturing, defense systems, and emerging technologies. Trump framed the project as a strategic move to end what he called “foolish dependence on foreign sources.”

Trump credited tariffs as a driving force behind the scale of the agreement.

“The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS,” he wrote, arguing that his trade policies helped bring Japan to the negotiating table and secure long-term investment commitments.

The announcement comes as the administration continues to push an “America First” economic agenda focused on reshoring manufacturing, expanding domestic energy production, and strengthening supply chains considered vital to national security.

Japan has long been one of the United States’ largest trading partners and a key strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump described the agreement as a “very exciting and HISTORIC time” for both nations and offered congratulations to all parties involved.

The investments are expected to unfold in phases, with additional projects potentially announced in the coming months as implementation of the $550 billion commitment continues. If fully realized, the administration argues the deal could generate hundreds of thousands of American jobs while reinforcing domestic production in sectors deemed critical to economic and national security.

“As there remain areas where Japan and the United States need further coordination, we agreed to work closely together to develop projects,” Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters last week.

“This project is expected to generate $20–30 billion annually in U.S. crude exports, secure export capacity for our refineries, and reinforce America’s position as the world’s leading energy supplier,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

Tokyo will fund three major projects: a gas-fired power plant in Ohio expected to be one of the largest of its kind, a liquefied natural gas and deepwater crude export facility in Texas, and a critical minerals and industrial diamond manufacturing plant in Georgia aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains.