Japan mulls expanding imports of LNG from the U.S. for tariff negotiations

The Japanese government is exploring full-scale discussions to increase its LNG imports from the U.S., positioning this move as a strategic leverage in potential trade negotiations with the United States. The U.S.-Japan talks aim to address Washington's demand for measures Japan will take to reduce its trade surplus, while the U.S. seeks similarly to lower tariffs. In 2024, Japan imported $3.8 billion worth of LNG from the U.S., ranking it fourth among major suppliers after Australia, Malaysia, and Russia.