FOCUS: Japan investment in U.S. can beef up ties with Trump but not without risks

TOKYO - The second batch of projects in the United States under Japan's $550 billion investment commitment, unveiled in Washington on Thursday, may help strengthen Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump but could force Japanese businesses into unfavorable contract terms, analysts said.

The latest projects worth $73 billion focus on the energy sector, with Takaichi describing them as timely initiatives given the Middle East crisis and growing power demand around the world. They come on top of the $36 billion of investment promised in the first round only a month ago.