*US -TRADE FEARS- UP*

PRESIDENT Donald Trump's trade relations with Tokyo are testy, but Idaho gave Takashi Suzuki a very warm welcome.

Suzuki, president of Sakae Casting Co., which manufactures aluminum parts used for cooling batteries and semiconductors, first went to Silicon Valley looking for opportunities.

But that was where everyone went, making for tough competition.

In Idaho, he was welcomed by politicians, officials and the University of Idaho. Suzuki hopes to work with them on developing a way to cool nuclear fuel without creating polluted water - a problem that has intrigued Suzuki since Japan's 2011 nuclear disaster.

New cooling technology could reduce the need for tanks packed with 1 million tons of radioactive water at the Fukushima power plant. Idaho, which has a nuclear laboratory as well as reactors, would also benefit from such a break through.

While Trump's squabbles with Japan, Canada, and Europe about the steel tariffs grab headlines, companies such as Suzuki's forcing their own deals with American states go their own way in pursuing investment and commercial opportunities.

As a small state ''we are well positioned to give these types of companies the attention, direction and support they need,'' said Jan Rogers, chief executive of REDI, or Regional Economic Development Eastern Idaho, who was on a none-day trip in Japan recently.

In return, five companies that Rogers, state Sen. Kelly Anthon and University of Idaho Executive Officer  Marc Skinner met in Hachioji are scheduled to visit Idaho in July to explore opportunities..

Suzuki believes Japanese companies have fallen behind South Korean and other competitors due to lack of negotiation flexibility.

He said it was easier to get a meeting with Idaho representatives than with anyone important in the Japanese government.

''These days, we need to forge our own strategy,'' said Suzuki, whose grandfather started his company in 1952.

The Honor and Serving of  the Latest Global Operational Research on Trade Fears and Global World continues to Part 2.