President Donald Trump is going to Japan and South Korea next week to promote an epic financial windfall — at least $900 billion in investments for U.S. factories, a natural gas pipeline and other projects.

Japan and South Korea made those financial commitments in August to try to get Trump to ratchet down his planned tariff rates from 25% to 15%. But as the U.S. president is set to depart Friday night for Asia, the pledges are more of a loose end than money in the bank for American industry.

Japan pledged $550 billion in investments, but it wants the money to benefit its own companies, and its new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi , is operating in an untested coalition government.

South Korea offered $350 billion — but wants a swap line for U.S. dollars, funded through loan guaran

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