International relationsHow Howard Lutnick and Masayoshi Son put Japan on the hook for $550bn
SoftBank CEO's financing search for massive projects led him to tariff talks
Howard Lutnick, left, and Masayoshi Son stand with then-President-elect Donald Trump in December as he delivers remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. © Reuters
AKIRA YAMASHITA
August 27, 2025 21:30 JST
LONDON -- The trade agreement struck between Tokyo and Washington had hinged on a $550 billion "investment vehicle" in which Japan is to invest in projects in the U.S. This framework is tied to a person who, until now, has stayed studiously distant from politics: SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son.