Trump heads to Tokyo for trade, security talks before Xi summit

TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump departed for Tokyo on Monday, where he was scheduled to meet Japan’s emperor and newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as part of an Asia trip aimed at securing trade deals, investment and increased defence spending.
Trump, on his longest journey abroad since taking office in January, announced a slew of deals with Southeast Asian countries and oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during his first stop in Malaysia.
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His trip is expected to conclude in a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, as negotiators for the world’s top two economies seek to avert rekindling a devastating trade war.
While Trump has already landed a $550 billion investment pledge from Japan in exchange for respite on punishing import tariffs, Takaichi is hoping to further impress Trump with promises to purchase U.S. pickup trucks, soybeans and gas.