Young Part of ‘Constructive’ Talks With Key Trading Partner

After just over a month in office, Indiana’s newest senator is getting face time with world leaders. Todd Young was among a group of legislators that met Friday in Washington D.C. with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Young says the gathering involved a lot of discussion on global security and trade agreements, but his time with the Prime Minister was focused on economic issues.

Young succeeded President Donald Trump’s pick for national intelligence director, Dan Coats as senator.

Young says Japan is a key trading partner for Indiana. "Japan, outside of North America, is our largest trading partner," he told Inside INdiana Business. Young represents thousands of employees at subsidiaries of Japan-based manufacturers in the state, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Princeton and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana Inc. in Greensburg. "Continued investment in the automobile sector in particular is one area where I’m optimistic. We’re going to see continued growth in that area and that would be consistent with everything the prime minister said today," he said.

Young said the conversation with Prime Minister Abe was "constructive" and he was optimistic Japan and the U.S. could reach a bilateral trade agreement with Japan in light of the likely demise of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.