Japan Might Buy 100 Ford F-150 Pickups To Flatter Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a variety of imports earlier this year, including automobiles, parts, and raw materials, and in the ensuing months, he has worked to hammer out new trade deals with a variety of countries. One such country is Japan, which has mulled the idea of allowing U.S. manufacturers like Ford to sell vehicles at Toyota dealerships, or even importing models like the Ford F-150 to help smooth over those talks. Now, it seems as if Japan is thinking about buying some F-150 pickups to flatter Trump, too.

According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese government is indeed mulling the purchase of around 100 Ford F-150 pickups that it would use to inspect things like roads and dams, just as Trump is set to visit that country later this month. If there was any doubt as to the intent of this move or the timing, officials even plan to display one of those Ford F-150 models in front of the Akasaka Palace state guesthouse, prominently in view for the U.S. President's arrival.

"The F-150 is one of Trump's favorites," said Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's top trade negotiator, in a recent news conference when asked about the particular possibility. "However, there is nothing specific I can say." The decision of whether or not to move forward with this purchase is seemingly hinging on the results of an election being held by the Japanese parliament, which is set to choose a new prime minister.

Ford used to sell vehicles in Japan, but withdrew from that market back in 2016. In recent months, Trump has urged that country to allow for greater imports of U.S. vehicles, which currently represent a very small slice of that market - just 16,000 units in 2024, in total, compared to the 1.37 million vehicles Japan exported to the U.S. over the same time period. Those numbers could soon increase, however, following a tariff agreement that would allow for the sale of U.S.-based imports without the need for additional safety testing in Japan.