Trump Says Japan to Import Ford's F-150 Amid Tariff Dispute

Donald Trump announced that Japan would begin importing Ford’s large F-150 pickup trucks, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the implementation of a recent U.S.-Japan trade agreement [1]. The statement comes amid a visit by Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, to Washington, where he is pushing for the U.S. to reduce auto tariffs from the current 27.5% to 15% as part of the deal. Trump, in a phone interview with CNBC, expressed confidence that the F-150 would succeed in the Japanese market, calling it “very beautiful” and stating, “They’re taking our cars” [1].

The trade agreement remains muddled with unresolved details, particularly regarding the structure of the reduced tariffs. While Akazawa has stated that the 15% rate would replace the current levies, an executive order recently indicated that the reduction would apply only to the European Union and not to Japan [1]. This discrepancy has fueled uncertainty about the actual terms of the deal. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the urgency of enforcing the agreement during a parliamentary session, vowing that the government would “do its utmost to ensure its implementation” [1].

Trump’s claim that Japan will import the F-150 raises questions about its practicality in the Japanese market. The F-150, which is more than two meters wide, may struggle to meet Japan’s infrastructure constraints, as many two-lane roads are less than four meters wide, according to a 2012 government report [1]. Analysts suggest that U.S. vehicles often fail to gain traction in Japan not due to trade barriers but because they are not suited to local conditions [1].

In the same interview, Trump referred to the $550 billion investment package agreed to with Japan as a “signing bonus,” akin to a contract in professional sports [1]. However, the Japanese government clarified that only 1% to 2% of the total would represent actual investment, with the remainder consisting of loans and loan guarantees. Prime Minister Ishiba stated that the investments would be driven by private companies and would benefit both countries [1].

Source: [1] Trump says Japan to import Ford’s huge F-150 pickup trucks (https://fortune.com/asia/2025/08/06/trump-says-japan-import-ford-f-150-pickup-truck/)