Yomiuri wrote that the governments of the U.S. and Japan strengthened cooperation in the energy sector through the latest meetings between President Trump and Prime Minister Abe. According to the paper, the U.S. and Japanese leaders agreed on Monday to establish a strategic energy partnership under which the U.S. and Japan will strengthen their cooperation in exporting technology on energy infrastructure development to emerging nations in Asia and Africa. The Abe administration will support the United States’ efforts to expand shale gas exports through infrastructure development based on the view that expanded exports of shale gas will help reduce U.S. trade deficits. Nikkei and Mainichi ran similar reports.

Yomiuri also wrote that in response to the United States’ dissatisfaction with auto safety standards in Japan, Tokyo made concessions at the bilateral meeting on Monday on such issues as safety standards and tax relief measures for environmentally friendly cars. Japan also said it would carefully review its plan to reduce pharmaceutical prices in Japan in response to the U.S. call to maintain them. According to the paper, differences remained between the U.S. and Japan over U.S. beef exports to Japan. The paper wrote that the U.S. may ask Japan to open its market further to reduce the bilateral trade deficit because Washington is not completely satisfied with Japan’s concessions.