$36 Billion Boost Coming for Texas, Ohio and Georgia

A U.S.-Japan deal will see major projects coming to three states.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Japan has committed nearly $36 billion to three U.S.-based energy and critical materials projects in Texas, Ohio and Georgia as the first investments under a U.S.-Japan trade deal. The package includes a $33 billion natural gas facility in Ohio, a $2.1 billion deep water crude oil export terminal in Texas, and a $600 million synthetic industrial diamond plant in Georgia.

Why it matters

The Ohio natural gas facility would be the largest of its kind in U.S. history, potentially adding significant baseload power capacity amid surging demand from data centers and supporting expanded industrial activity. The Texas export terminal could handle $20-30 billion in annual crude shipments, reinforcing U.S. energy export infrastructure. The Georgia diamond plant aims to meet all U.S. demand for diamond grit used in advanced manufacturing, reducing reliance on Chinese supplies.

The details

The $36 billion package includes a $33 billion natural gas facility in Portsmouth, Ohio to be operated by SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy with a capacity of 9.2 gigawatts. Japan is also investing $2.1 billion in the Texas GulfLink deep water crude oil export facility off the Texas coast, which could enable $20-30 billion in annual exports, with Sentinel Midstream as the developer. The third project is a roughly $600 million synthetic industrial diamond plant in Georgia to be operated by De Beers Group subsidiary Element Six, which U.S. authorities say will satisfy all U.S. demand for diamond grit.

  • The projects were announced on February 18, 2026.
  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on March 19, 2026 to mark the launch of the investment projects and coordinate implementation timelines.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States.

Sanae Takaichi

The Prime Minister of Japan.

Howard Lutnick

The U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Ryosei Akazawa

The Japanese economy and trade minister.

SB Energy

A subsidiary of SoftBank that will operate the natural gas facility in Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“Our MASSIVE Trade Deal with Japan has just launched! The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS,”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“These projects truly embody the purpose of this Strategic Investment Initiative, namely the promotion of mutual benefit between Japan and the United States, the enhancement of economic security, and the promotion of economic growth.”

— Sanae Takaichi, Japanese Prime Minister (X)

“This project is expected to generate $20–30 billion annually in U.S. crude exports, secure export capacity for our refineries, and reinforce America's position as the world's leading energy supplier,”

— Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary (Statement)

“All of these projects involve Japan and the United States working together to build supply chains in strategically important fields.”

— Ryosei Akazawa, Japanese economy and trade minister (Remarks to reporters in Tokyo)

What’s next

Takaichi is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on March 19, 2026 to mark the launch of the investment projects and coordinate implementation timelines.

The takeaway

This major U.S.-Japan investment deal represents a significant boost to energy capacity, critical materials supply chains, and economic security for both countries as they seek to reduce reliance on strategic competitors and bolster their industrial and technological capabilities through deepened economic cooperation.