TOKYO / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to strengthen trade ties with the United States by purchasing Ford F-150 trucks. This gesture is intended to improve personal relations with President Trump and facilitate trade negotiations. Despite Tokyo’s narrow streets, this could be a symbolic step to support the American automotive industry.
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Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces a major challenge: reshaping trade relations with the United States after President Donald Trump caused unrest with his tariffs. One unusual approach she is taking is buying Ford F-150 trucks to impress Trump and facilitate trade talks. However, this decision could face practical difficulties due to the narrow streets in Tokyo and other Japanese cities.
President Trump’s visit to Japan is an early diplomatic test for Takaichi, who is the first woman to serve as prime minister. She took office just a week ago and has a fragile coalition. Trump was enthusiastic about the idea of Ford trucks and praised Takaichi’s taste. During a phone call during his flight to Asia, Takaichi emphasized her connection to the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a close Trump ally.
Behind the warm hospitality lies a search for a strategy to navigate the complex trade relationships that Trump has roiled with his tariffs. Trump is demanding that his allies buy more American goods and make financial commitments to build factories and energy infrastructure in the United States. The meetings in Japan come before Trump’s talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the US back in September, prompting Trump to cut a threatened 25% tariff on Japanese goods to 15%. However, Japan wants the investments to benefit Japanese suppliers and contractors. Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa has said his ministry is compiling a list of projects in computer chips and energy to meet the investment target.
For Trump, the prospect of Ford trucks on the streets of Tokyo would be a win. The U.S. government has long complained about American vehicles being excluded from a market that is home to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Takaichi could arrange for Ford F-150 trucks to be displayed at a location Trump would see, Japanese newspaper Nikkei reported. The government is considering importing the trucks for the Transportation Ministry to inspect roads and infrastructure, although there are concerns that the F-150 could cause traffic jams on Japan’s narrow roads.
The gestures, combined with Takaichi’s connection to Abe, were intended to help her deal with Trump, who seems receptive to her. Trump spoke positively about Takaichi and her connection to Abe, although emphasizing her ties to Abe also carries risks for Takaichi as she needs to develop her own identity as Japan’s leader.
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