TOKYO — Japan’s most iconic truck is perhaps the tiny white transport autos that farmers use to lug gear on the slender roads that hyperlink their rice fields.

However Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had one other truck in thoughts as she seemed to construct rapport with visiting U.S. President Donald Trump.

Takaichi, who needs to enhance financial ties with Washington and cement a robust relationship with Trump, positioned U.S.-made automobiles, together with an unlimited American Ford F-150 truck, within the courtyard of the Akasaka Palace the place the leaders held their first talks Tuesday.

Trump, who’s a fan of the Ford F-150, has responded positively to the likelihood that the Japanese authorities is contemplating shopping for dozens of the pickups.

Trump has complained that there are hardly any American automobiles in Japan and that the nation’s car security requirements are too strict.

However the lack of huge American cars is perhaps linked to extra sensible causes, together with native tastes, the circumstances and dimension of roads, and advertising and marketing.

Japan is smaller than California, there’s restricted parking and lots of streets listed below are very slender.

Shoppers appear to want compact or mini automobiles that may simply navigate the crowded, slender roads. Those that can afford costlier international automobiles are likely to go for compact or medium-size autos from Europe, equivalent to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi.

Aside from American-produced Japanese automobiles equivalent to Honda, Mazda and Nissan, the top-selling American model is Jeep, based on the Japan Car Importers Affiliation.

Many American automobiles have their steering on the left aspect, the alternative of the usual right-side steering in Japan, the place expressway tolls are on the correct aspect, as an illustration. Decrease mileage and lack of upkeep and repair networks additionally assist clarify why American manufacturers apart from Jeep have struggled in Japan.

“Why do not American automobiles promote properly in Japan? As a result of they lack understanding for highway circumstances and housing conditions, in addition to power conservation,” former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba informed parliament in April.

When Trump heard of the Ford truck thought as he flew to Asia on Air Power One, he reacted enthusiastically.

“She has good style,” Trump informed reporters of Takaichi. “That’s a sizzling truck.”

The underlying context is Takaichi’s want to determine navigate the advanced commerce relationship that Trump shook up earlier this yr with tariffs.

Trump needs allies to purchase extra American items and in addition make monetary commitments to construct factories and power infrastructure in the USA.

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

In Japan, sport utility autos and have gotten common amongst folks with households and for out of doors actions equivalent to tenting, however patrons typically go for extra fashionable, smaller fashions.