Trump launches three major Japanese investment projects in three U.S. states, with the first phase valued at $550 billion, boasting tax incentives as driving this historic deal.
On 17 Feb 2026 GMT+7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Japan's initial investment projects in Texas, Ohio, and Georgia worth $550 billion under a bilateral trade agreement, emphasizing that tax measures were the key factor enabling this historic deal.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the projects cover the oil and gas sector in Texas, power generation in Ohio, and critical minerals in Georgia. He stressed that Japan is officially moving forward with investments under a historic trade agreement aimed at reviving American industry, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and strengthening the nation's economic and energy security.
Trump stated that the projects are so large they could not happen without one special factor: taxes. He gave examples, saying the gas power plant in Ohio will be the largest in history, the liquefied natural gas terminal in the Gulf of America will boost exports and reinforce U.S. energy leadership, while the critical mineral plant will end foreign dependence.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik provided details that the three projects total approximately $36 billion, covering strategic sectors of the economy. The first project is a joint U.S.-Japan development of a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas power plant in Ohio, described as the largest natural gas power plant in history, enhancing grid security and supporting manufacturing with low-cost energy.
The second project involves building a deepwater crude oil export port, expected to generate $20-30 billion annually from U.S. crude exports, increasing refinery export capacity, and reinforcing the U.S. position as a major global energy supplier.
The third project will establish domestic synthetic industrial diamond production capacity to meet 100% of U.S. demand for synthetic diamond powder, reducing reliance on imports from abroad.