Will Shinzo Abe’s ‘personal chemistry’ with Donald Trump prevent bust-up over trade during US president’s state visit to Japan?

Trump has made clear he is unhappy with Japan’s US$68 billion trade surplus with the US, much of it from auto exports

They are also expected to discuss North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes and China’s economic and military rise

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump in 2017. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 3:00am, 23 May 2019Updated: 5:02pm, 27 May 2019

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will treat US President Donald Trump to an imperial banquet, front row seats at a sumo tournament and a trip to the country’s biggest warship on a state visit as Tokyo seeks to avoid a bust-up over trade.

New Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Harvard-educated Empress Masako will host a lavish dinner for Trump during his stay through May 28, part of a display meant to showcase the two countries’ alliance.

The US leader will become the first foreign dignitary to be so honoured since the monarch inherited the throne this month. Trump will also play golf with Abe and inspect Japan’s Kaga helicopter carrier.

At their summit on Monday, Trump and Abe are expected to discuss topics from North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes and China’s economic and military rise to two-way trade at a time when Washington is embroiled in a trade war with Beijing.

“Various issues will come up during President Trump’s visit but I don’t think they will be so severe,” Kenji Wakamiya, chairman of the lower house foreign affairs committee, said this week. “I don’t think [demands] will be as harsh as towards China.”