In a sunny outdoor ceremony at the Imperial Palace, Trump shook hands with Emperor Naruhito and his wife, engaging warmly as he became the first foreign leader to meet the new monarch. Trump has also sounded bullish in his bid to negotiate a new trade deal with Japan that reduces a $68 billion trade deficit. He said this week that real work on a new trade agreement would not begin until after Japanese parliamentary elections in July. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in a welcome ceremony with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday. The business portion of the visit will also include a news conference and an imperial banquet, all meant to underscore strong US-Japan ties that Abe hopes to reinforce through his close personal friendship with Trump.

Source: CNN May 27, 2019 01:18 UTC