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Strategic Lens

Japan and United States

First country

Second country

In 2025, Japan sold USD 137.2 billion of goods to United States and bought USD 87.8 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Japan US (2020). Both are members of the G20, the G7, the OECD and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 64 percent in 2023, and 55 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in arms and ammunition grew about 7.0 times, from USD 172 million in 2019 to USD 1.21 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft grew 121 percent, from USD 85.9 million in 2019 to USD 189 million in 2025.
  • BothJapan US, signed 2019 and in force since 2020.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United States sold USD 12.1 billion of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 221 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United States sold USD 1.00 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 206 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United States sold USD 14.6 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 1.75 billion the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 225.0 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
Japan to United States
USD 137.2 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
United States to Japan
USD 87.8 billion
2025, as reported by Japan

What connects Japan and United States

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 137.2 billion of goods to United States and bought USD 87.8 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 221 million of mineral fuels and oils to United States and bought USD 12.1 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 206 million of critical minerals and metals to United States and bought USD 1.00 billion from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Japan sold USD 1.75 billion of agricultural and food products to United States and bought USD 14.6 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Japan sold USD 25.0 million of fertilisers to United States and bought USD 13.7 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Japan sold USD 77.0 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United States and bought USD 16.5 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 15.7 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to United States and bought USD 5.67 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Japan sold USD 2.42 billion of pharmaceutical products to United States and bought USD 8.69 billion from it.

Security

Defence and armsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 414 million of arms and ammunition to United States and bought USD 796 million from it.Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, Japan sold USD 56.2 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to United States and bought USD 133 million from it.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Japan US (2020).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20, the G7, the OECD and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 64 percent in 2023, and 55 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 547 thousand people born in Japan lived in United States, and 63 thousand people born in United States lived in Japan.

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