Overview
- President Donald Trump announced the fund’s launch and identified an Ohio gas plant, a Georgia critical‑minerals facility and a Texas LNG terminal as the first projects.
- The pact, reached last July, links a 15% U.S. tariff regime on Japanese imports to large Japanese investment in strategic sectors such as energy and critical minerals.
- Project choices followed a December review by a joint panel, with final approvals reserved to the president based on the committee’s recommendations.
- Financing terms and participating companies were not disclosed, and Japan’s commerce minister said support will largely be loans and guarantees with only 1–2% in direct cash, led by JBIC and NEXI.
- The agreement gives Japan 45 business days to commit funding for approved projects, and failure to do so could trigger restored tariffs, as both sides prepare for a March 19 meeting in Washington.