Signed cooperation agreements on AI, chips, and biotechnology with the US, Japan, and South Korea

US President Donald Trump touched down in Asia this week not just for diplomacy but to sign a deal that could shape the next chapter of the global technology race. The United States has signed Technology Prosperity Pacts (TPDs) with Japan and South Korea to foster cooperation in AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, space, 6G, and other technologies.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation, strengthen strategic relationships, align regulations, and support economic and national security objectives. The new agreement comes about a month after the US strengthened its technology ties with the UK.

The United States has effectively entered into a partnership to leverage the expertise of Japan and South Korea. Japan leads in advanced materials, robotics and space technology, and South Korea has a monopoly on memory chip production.

According to the White House, the Japan-U.S. agreement aims to boost AI exports, strengthen technology protections, and refocus AI standards and innovation. Meanwhile, the United States and South Korea will work together to reduce the “operational burden” on technology companies, with a focus on removing obstacles to “innovative data localization and hosting architectures.”

According to an Oct. 28 White House press release, Japan and the U.S. plan to “advance pro-innovation AI policy frameworks and initiatives to support the U.S.-Japan-led AI ecosystem and promote exports of U.S. and Japanese AI infrastructure, hardware, models, software, applications, and related standards across the full stack.”

“The U.S.-Korea TPD will advance U.S. interests by coordinating U.S. and South Korea AI exports, strengthen export controls and enforcement in both countries, and refocus the U.S. AI Standards Innovation Center and Korea AI Safety Institute’s partnership on metrology and standards innovation,” the White House said Wednesday.

These agreements also address broader goals of reducing dependence on China’s technology supply chain and shaping the rules for technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

For the technology industry, these deals are a signal to closely monitor these related markets, as collaborations can create new opportunities for both startups and large technology companies. With the United States, Japan, and South Korea aligning their technology strategies, future breakthroughs in AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, space, and 6G could come not just from individual labs, but from strategic partnerships aimed at gaining an advantage in the global technology race.