FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday imports of Japanese automobiles pose no threat to U.S. national security, vowing to convince President Donald Trump not to impose tariffs that could damage the global economy.

“Imports of our nation’s automobiles and auto parts have never damaged U.S. national security and will not do so in the future,” Abe said at a news conference to mark the end of the parliamentary session.

Washington launched an investigation in May into whether imported vehicles were a threat to national security threat. Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs as a key part of his economic message, repeatedly lamenting the U.S. auto sector trade deficit, particularly with Germany and Japan.

Abe said Japanese companies built some 3.8 million cars annually in the United States, more than double the number of vehicles shipped there from Japan.

“Trade restrictions will not benefit anyone, and we will keep explaining that to the U.S. and work closely with them to ensure those tariffs are not imposed, ” Abe said.