Jera, Japan’s leading power generation company, declared on Thursday that it will increase imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. The move aligns with Tokyo’s ongoing efforts to secure a trade agreement with Washington.

Jera has committed to purchasing up to 5.5 million metric tons of U.S. liquefied natural gas annually under 20-year contracts.

Jera stated that the agreements support its long-term strategy to establish a diverse and resilient LNG procurement portfolio, ensuring stable and secure energy for Japan and Asia. The company confirmed signing supply deals with four U.S. gas projects located in Texas and Louisiana.

The agreements reinforce Japan’s position as the second-largest LNG importer globally, following China. The deal comes as Japanese officials ongoing discussions with the U.S. counterparts to ease Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ trade tariffs, with fuel and agriculture imports serving as a negotiating tool for Tokyo.

Jera’s latest agreements will enable it to obtain up to 5.5 million additional tons of LNG annually from the United States, expanding its current imports of 3.5 to 4 million tons. Meanwhile, Trump is pushing to increase fuel production and exports, reaffirming his ‘drill, baby, drill’ pledge for oil and gas during his election campaign.

The U.S. Department of the Interior recognized the agreements as a milestone in President Trump’s efforts to boost investment in the U.S. and reinforce American energy leadership. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that the commitment would contribute nearly a quarter trillion dollars to the U.S. economy while supporting over 50,000 jobs in the nation’s LNG sector.

Jera, co-owned by Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, supplies around 30% of Japan’s total electricity, according to its website.

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