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TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism on Sunday that his country might prevent greater U.S. tariffs, saying President Donald Trump had actually "acknowledged" Japan's huge investment in the U.S. and the American tasks that it develops.

At his very first White House top on Friday, Ishiba informed public broadcaster NHK, he explained to Trump how many Japanese car manufacturers were in the United States.

The 2 did not particularly talk about auto tariffs, Ishiba said, although he said he did not know whether Japan would undergo the mutual tariffs that Trump has actually said he plans to impose on imports.

Tokyo has so far got away the trade war Trump let loose in his first weeks in workplace. He has revealed tariffs on items from Canada, Mexico and China, although he postponed the 25% tasks on his North American neighbours to permit for talks.

The escalating trade stress considering that Trump went back to the White House on January 20 threaten to rupture the global economy.

Ishiba said he thinks Trump "acknowledged the reality Japan has actually been the world's largest investor in the United States for five straight years, and is therefore different from other nations."

"Japan is developing many U.S. jobs. I think (Washington) won't go straight to the idea of higher tariffs," he said.

Ishiba voiced optimism that Japan and the U.S. can prevent a tit-for-tat tariff war, stressing that tariffs should be put in place in a manner that "benefits both sides".

"Any action that makes use of or leaves out the other side will not last," Ishiba said. "The question is whether there is any problem in between Japan and the United States that necessitates imposing greater tariffs," he added.

Japan had the highest foreign direct financial investment in the United States in 2023 at $783.3 billion, followed by Canada and chessdatabase.science Germany, according to the most recent U.S. Commerce Department information.

Trump pushed Ishiba to close Japan's $68.5 billion yearly trade surplus with Washington however revealed optimism this might be done rapidly, given a pledge by Ishiba to bring Japanese investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion.

On Sunday, Ishiba identified liquefied natural gas, steel, AI and automobiles as areas that Japanese companies could buy.

He also discussed Trump's pledge to take a look at Nippon Steel investing in U.S. Steel, instead of buying the storied American company - a prepared purchase opposed by Trump and blocked by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"Investment is being made to guarantee that it remains an American business. It will continue to run under American management, with American workers," Ishiba said. "The crucial point is how to guarantee it remains an American business. From President Trump's point of view, this is of utmost significance."

On military spending, another location where Trump has actually pushed allies for boosts, mariskamast.net Ishiba said Japan would not increase its defence budget plan without first winning public backing. "It is essential to make sure that what is considered necessary is something the taxpayers can understand and support," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara: Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)