President Trump said Friday he thinks a trade deal between the U.S. and Japan can be struck “very quickly,” pointing to his warm relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and their mutual desire to avoid escalating tariffs on critical sectors in their economies.

Mr. Trump has flirted with cracking down on Japanese car imports unless the Asian powerhouse lightens up on U.S. agriculture.

“We’ll be discussing very strongly agriculture, because as the prime minister knows Japan puts, very massively, tariffs on our agriculture,” Mr. Trump said during Mr. Abe’s visit to the Oval Office. “We don’t tariff their cars, so I think it’s something we’ll work out.”

Mr. Abe pushed back, saying the U.S. imposed a 2.5% tariff on Japanese autos, and that Japan has not responded in kind on American vehicles.

“But in any case we would like to proceed with further negotiation that we are now having so that we’ll see a mutually beneficial outcome for both of our countries,” Mr. Abe said.

Mr. Abe offered “deep appreciation for the great hospitality” to Mr. Trump, and noted his country has made $23 billion in investments in the U.S., creating 43,000 jobs, since the president took office.

Mr. Trump also spoke glowingly about the relationship between the two countries.

He said he urged his Air Force One pilots to rush back Friday from an NRA event in Indiana, so Mr. Abe and his wife wouldn’t be kept waiting.

The couples planned to enjoy dinner at the White House late Friday to celebrate first lady Melania Trump’s birthday.

The meeting is the first of three summits between the nations.

In May, Mr. Trump and Mrs. Trump will visit in Japan as the first state visitors after the ascension of a new emperor. They plan to attend a sumo wrestling match during the visit, Mr. Trump told reporters.

Mr. Trump will return to Japan in late June for G-20 meetings in Osaka.

Mr. Trump has cultivated a friendly relationship with Mr. Abe. Last year, they bonded over a round of golf at the president’s hideaway in coastal Florida.

The two leaders plan to go golfing in the D.C. area Saturday.

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