<h1>Prime minister courts U.S. president to ease trade frictions via U.S. procurement, energy and auto purchases</h1> The new Japanese prime minister seeks to cultivate a personal rapport with the U.S. president to ease trade frictions, using symbolic and practical measures-potential government procurement of U.S. pickup trucks and increased purchases of soybeans, LNG and autos-to encourage U.S. investment and obtain tariff relief. Legal issues implicated include government procurement rules, potential protectionist preferences for domestic contractors, compliance with prior investment commitments tied to tariff adjustments, and regulatory or infrastructure constraints affecting vehicle suitability. The negotiations aim to balance investment pledges, market access for U.S. manufacturers, and domestic policy considerations while managing political risk from closely aligning with a predecessor's legacy.