The two-day summit between President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach shows the limits of their "bromance" when trade is on the table.
Trump has spurned Abe's top economic and trade priorities.
He's not allowing Japan an exemption from new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, and he's not giving in to Abe's coaxing to allow the U.S. to re-join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
The pair said during a press conference on Wednesday they had agreed to intensify trade consultations between the two allies, with an aim to expand investment and trade between their countries.
While the leaders said they had agreed to have top advisers pursue talks, Abe made clear that differences remained in each country's approach.
"On the US side, they are interested in a bilateral deal," Abe told reporters. "Our country's position is that TPP is the best for both of our countries," he added, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.