Japan gave Trump a colorful map to explain US investments: report

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented President Trump with a colorful map Friday meant to explain Japanese investments in the U.S., Axios reported Friday.

Trump and Abe met this week at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, to discuss an array of topics, including the president’s gripes about an imbalance in the trade relationship between Washington and Tokyo.

Like others around the world, the Japanese have figured out how to play to a visiting Trump. Abe gave him this chart showing how much Japan invests in the United States. pic.twitter.com/JFlMmYHuwg

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 28, 2019

New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker tweeted a photo of the map Thursday.

The chart, titled “Japan has five additional investments in just one month” in big red letters, underscores how foreign leaders approach negotiations with Trump, believing that visual aids could help further their causes.

{mosads}The tactic appeared to work, with the president referring to the map when speaking to reporters after the meeting with Abe. 

“I appreciate the fact that you’re sending many automobile companies into Michigan and Ohio and Pennsylvania and North Carolina — a lot of our states,” Trump said. “They’re building magnificent plants.”

Reports have emerged that Trump is not inclined to read long briefing documents before meetings and instead prefers to visualize policies. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reportedly used colorful cards with simple explanations last year to discuss trade policies with Trump.