Three major investments across key states
U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Tuesday for three large-scale projects in Texas, Ohio, and Georgia as part of Japan’s previously pledged $550 billion investment package in the United States.
According to Trump, the initiatives will include a gas-fired power plant in Ohio, an oil and liquefied natural gas facility in Texas, and a critical minerals processing operation in Georgia. He shared the details on his Truth Social platform but did not disclose which companies will execute the projects or the specific investment amounts allocated to each.
Tied to tariff negotiations
The announcement follows recent talks between Japanese Economic and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The meetings were aimed at advancing agreements under Japan’s broader investment pledge, which is connected to a trade arrangement that reduced U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%.
Akazawa indicated last week that while progress had been made, some outstanding matters still needed resolution before final agreements could be formally confirmed.
Trump framed the projects as evidence of the leverage created by U.S. tariff policy. “The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS,” he wrote.
Energy and mineral security focus
In highlighting the Ohio power plant, Trump described it as the largest of its kind in history. The Texas LNG development, situated along the Gulf Coast, was presented as a move to strengthen export capacity and reinforce what he called American “energy dominance.”
The Georgia critical minerals facility is positioned as an effort to reduce reliance on foreign sources for essential materials used in strategic industries. While details were limited, analysts have previously suggested that a synthetic diamond manufacturing plant is among the potential candidates within the broader investment framework.
Sources in Japan have indicated that expanding synthetic diamond production in the U.S. is under consideration, given the material’s importance for high-precision manufacturing and the strategic goal of reducing dependence on China for industrial-grade diamonds.
The White House did not immediately provide additional clarification regarding the minerals project or timeline for construction.
Strategic implications
The investment package reflects deepening U.S.-Japan economic coordination, particularly in energy infrastructure and supply chain resilience. As geopolitical competition intensifies, both countries appear focused on bolstering domestic production capacity in sectors deemed critical to national security and long-term industrial competitiveness.
