Japans PM flatters Trump with savvy move to ease

President Donald Trump arrives Monday in Japan, where new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is banking on building a pleasant personal relationship with the U.S. chief to ease commerce tensions.

One key to this strategy may lie in an thought floated by Japan’s authorities to buy a fleet of Ford F-150 vehicles, a significant gesture that might also be impractical given the slender streets in Tokyo and other Japanese cities.

It’s an early diplomatic take a look at for Takaichi, the first girl to lead Japan. She took workplace only last week and has a tenuous coalition backing her.

Trump immediately purchased into the concept of Ford vehicles as he flew to Asia aboard Air Force One.

“She has good taste,” Trump told reporters. “That’s a hot truck.”

The two spoke over the cellphone while Trump was mid-flight on Saturday. Takaichi pressured her standing as a protege of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a favourite of Trump’s from his first time period, and said she praised him for brokering the Gaza ceasefire that led to the return of hostages held by Hamas.

“I thought (Trump) is a very cheerful and fun person,” she said. “He well recognizes me and said he remembers me as a politician whom (former) Prime Minister Abe really cared about,” she said. “And I told the president that I extremely look forward to welcoming him in Tokyo.”

Trump spent Sunday in Malaysia, where he participated in a regional summit, and departed Monday morning for Japan.

Beneath the hospitality is the search for a strategy to navigate the more and more advanced commerce relationship that Trump shook up earlier this 12 months with tariffs. Trump needs allies to buy more American items and also make financial commitments to construct factories and power infrastructure in the U.S.

The conferences in Japan come forward of Trump’s sit-down with Chinese chief Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea.
Both the U.S. and Japan have sought to restrict China’s manufacturing ambitions, as the emergence of Chinese electric autos, artificial intelligence and superior pc chips may undermine the American and Japanese economies.

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“In light of the planned meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping shortly afterward, Trump may also be considering how he might strengthen his hand by demonstrating the robustness of the U.S.-Japan relationship,” said Kristi Govella, Japan chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington suppose tank.

Japan’s earlier administration agreed in September to invest $550 billion in the U.S., which led Trump to trim a threatened 25% tariff on Japanese items to 15%. But Japan needs the investments to favor Japanese distributors and contractors.

Japan’s economic system and commerce minister, Ryosei Akazawa, has said his ministry is compiling a record of tasks in pc chips and power to attempt to meet the investment goal.

“As far as I know, I’m hearing that there are a number of Japanese companies that are showing interest,” he told reporters Friday, though he didn’t give additional particulars.

Japanese officers are wanting at the chance of shopping for more American soybeans, liquefied natural fuel and autos.

For Trump, the prospect of Ford vehicles in the skyscrapered streets of Tokyo could be a win. The administration has long complained that American autos had been being shut out of a market that is the home of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Subaru. In a September interview on CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Japan would not buy U.S.-branded autos because “Chevys” had been fashionable with Japanese gangsters.

Takaichi might prepare for Ford F-150 vehicles to be showcased in a place Trump will get to see them, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported. The authorities is contemplating importing the vehicles for its transport ministry to use for inspecting roads and infrastructure, though there are issues that the F-150 may trigger congestion on slender Japanese streets. A Ford spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Japanese media have reported that Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda may announce plans to import his company’s American-made automobiles back to Japan during a dinner with Trump and other business leaders on Wednesday.

The gestures — mixed with Takaichi’s connection to Abe — ought to help her deal with Trump, who appears predisposed to like her.

“I think she’s going to be great,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “She’s a great friend of Mr. Abe, who was a great man.”
In 2016, Abe gave Trump a high-end golf membership to rejoice his first election, and the leaders bonded over their love of golf. Trump often expresses disappointment about Abe’s 2022 assassination.

But there are dangers for Takaichi in emphasizing her ties to Abe, said Rintaro Nishimura, who specializes in Japan at advisory firm The Asia Group.

“Because it’s Takaichi’s first diplomatic engagement I think she wants to start with sort of a bang,” Nishimura said. “Succeeding the Abe-line rhetoric is definitely going to be part of this engagement, although some also suggest that leaning too heavily on the Abe line might not exactly be good for her for creating her own kind of portfolio, her status as Japan’s leader.”

Trump lands in Tokyo on Monday, assembly first with Japanese Emperor Naruhito. After assembly with Takaichi on Tuesday, he’ll give a speech aboard the usS. George Washington plane service anchored in Japan and then maintain a dinner with business leaders. Trump plans to go away for South Korea on Wednesday.