Nearly half of Japanese CEOs say theyll boost investments in America despite Trumps tariffs

Nearly half of Japanese business leaders plan to increase their operations in the United States in response to President Trump’s calls for greater foreign investment despite worries over his tariff policies, according to a survey.Nearly three in 10 executives — or 28.3% — at 144 major Japanese corporations who were polled by the Nikkei news agency said they would expand their presence in the US — while another 20.5% said they were considering similar moves.An additional 0.8% of respondents who currently have no US operations indicated their intention to enter the market, according to the survey.None of the surveyed companies indicated plans to scale back their existing US operations.More than half — 50.8% — said that boosting production capacity was the main impetus while 47.6% said that interest in mergers and acquisitions was a motivating factor for expanding their US footprint while 34.9% said they were interested in startup investments.The survey was conducted between Feb.28 and March 19 — before President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday that the US will levy up to 25% tariffs on automotive imports.Trump, who sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue to offset his promised tax cuts and to revive a long-declining US industrial base, said the new import taxes will go into effect on April 2, the same date he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit. The Nikkei poll showed about three-quarters of respondents said they were looking for opportunities to expand and grow.Industries particularly keen on US expansion include electrical equipment, food and machinery, and materials.Several Japanese firms have already outlined specific expansion plans.Nissin Foods Holdings is preparing to open its first instant-noodle manufacturing facility in the US in nearly five decades, scheduled for August.Additionally, Sumitomo Chemical intends to establish a new US plant dedicated to producing cleani...