Editor’s Note
This article discusses Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, holding talks with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, with reports indicating final coordination on a joint project. The initial project is expected to involve synthetic diamond and thermal power plant construction.
![[도쿄=AP/뉴시스]지난 2024년 10월 1일 아카자와 료세이 경제재정·재생상이 도쿄 총리 관저에 들어서고 있다. 2026.02.13.](https://img1.newsis.com/2025/04/15/NISI20250415_0000260671_web.jpg?rnd=20250515102008)
[Tokyo=AP/Newsis] Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa enters the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo on October 1, 2024. 2026.02.13.
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Lim Chul-hwi = Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who is in charge of U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations, held talks with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. It appears they have entered final coordination regarding the first project of Japan’s promised investment in the United States.
According to the Asahi Shimbun and NHK on the 13th, Minister Akazawa met with Secretary Raimondo for about an hour and a half on the 12th (Eastern Time) at the U.S. Department of Commerce building in Washington, D.C.
Japan promised a $550 billion investment in the United States when it concluded tariff negotiations with the U.S. last July. In October of the same year, about 20 investment candidates related to energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and critical minerals were announced.
Asahi, citing multiple sources, reported that the first project is emerging as the construction of a synthetic diamond manufacturing facility and a thermal power plant.
NHK also reported that the construction of a gas-fired power plant for data centers, the establishment of a synthetic diamond manufacturing base, and the improvement of crude oil export ports have been mentioned as candidates for the first project.
Synthetic diamonds are used for industrial purposes such as cutting and polishing, and are also important materials utilized in manufacturing, including semiconductors and automobiles.
With China holding the majority of the supply, concerns surrounding the supply chain have grown. If production within the United States becomes possible, it is expected to contribute to U.S. national security.
Minister Akazawa is scheduled to hold a press conference in the afternoon of the same day (morning of the 13th, Japan time) to explain the outline of the discussions.
he had said earlier, showing strong willingness to reach a concrete agreement.