Japan is looking at purchasing Ford F-150 pickup trucks for use as government vehicles to fulfill pledges made during trade negotiations with the United States. Yes, you read that correctly. The country famous for exporting Toyotas and Hondas worldwide might soon have its government officials driving oversized American pickups through Tokyo’s narrow streets.
During tariff negotiations, Trump complained about American cars being absent from Japanese roads, pointing to stark trade imbalances. Japan exported 1.37 million vehicles to the United States in 2024 while importing only 16,074 American-made cars, according to Finance Ministry data. In a September statement issued jointly with the United States, Japan agreed to increase purchases of various American industrial and consumer goods and allow American cars with US safety certification to be sold in Japan without additional testing requirements.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Trump’s Ford F-150 Promise to Japan
The story began with President Trump’s trade deal with Japan. Trump announced that Japan would accept imports of Ford’s F-150 pickup trucks. During an August interview with CNBC, Trump stated that Japan has “totally opened up their country” and would be taking “the very beautiful Ford 150”, though he offered few specifics about how this would actually work.
Trump characterized the $550 billion investment package agreed with Japan as a “signing bonus”, suggesting the scale of economic commitments involved. The trade deal also reduces tariffs on Japanese goods entering the United States from 27.5 percent down to 15 percent, creating reciprocal pressure for Japan to demonstrate goodwill through American product purchases.
RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images
American Trucks in Japanese Government Fleets
The practical reality is more complex than Trump’s declarations suggest. Japanese streets were not built for American pickup trucks. The Ford F-150, America’s bestselling vehicle for decades, measures over 20 feet long and nearly seven feet wide depending on configuration. In other words, it’s just too large for most of Japan’s roads.
Yet Trump may visit Japan in late October, potentially putting pressure on officials to deliver visible evidence of the trade deal’s success. Government fleet purchases offer a convenient solution that demonstrates commitment without requiring Japanese consumers to suddenly develop enthusiasm for vehicles that don’t fit in most parking spaces. Whether F-150s actually appear in government lots remains uncertain, but the mere consideration shows how seriously this symbolic gesture is being taken.
