TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan has confirmed its commitment to an annual $7 billion worth of energy purchases from the United States while exploring their new Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG) off-take agreement, a joint statement on the bilateral trade deal showed on Friday.

The U.S. will also ensure it applies its lowest tariff rates to Japanese pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, showed the statement, released by Tokyo after President Donald Trump signed an order to lower tariffs on Japanese goods to implement a deal announced in July.