Japan relays concern about 'Buy American' provision to U.S.

Thursday 05th February, 10:38 AM JST

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samsarks at 02:59 PM JST - 5th February

informally,is it not the same here.how many jp use american products?this is america's stimulus plan for americans and japan's own is the Y12,000 for japanese.simple,mr honourable
GW at 03:12 PM JST - 5th February

this is hilarious coming from Jpn!! Unless its oil/gas & other raw materials & a few brand goods Jpn does a fine job of keeping the world out all the while expecting the world to buy J-goods.

I am not big on protectionism but this coming from Jpn is a joke!
timorborder at 03:19 PM JST - 5th February

Let's go retro. Welcome back to the 1980s, the decade of American uncertainty regarding its industrial base and Japan's paranoia about somebody conducting international trade using Japan's playbook. Sounds like the Japanese ambassador to the US does not know what decade he is in, let alone what century.
Badsey at 04:41 PM JST - 5th February

It seems like everyone wants to become protectionist like Japan now.
bakabaka at 04:45 PM JST - 5th February

People in Japan buy japanese goods because they are superior to the rest of the worlds products. Tongue out of cheek now.
apecNetworks at 05:46 PM JST - 5th February

Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki needs to go back to the late 1990's when similar legislation was being bandied about. The scale of the problem is so large, this legislation is for public consumption. As in the late 1990's, the meat of efforts will come in currency maneuvers just like the late 1990's. I had front row seats, and the same setup then gives off the same feel that emanated from the Clinton Administration. Most likely, this time, Japan would not be a primary target, but rather some other economy(s). Comparing notes at this year's APEC Forum will be enlightening.
apecNetworks at 05:52 PM JST - 5th February

What is it, 700-800 billion dollars legislation? That's a drop in the bucket for those who know what is going on.
apecNetworks at 05:59 PM JST - 5th February

Where are some of the posters who sometimes uses the phrase, "give them bread and circuses".
Alphaape at 06:22 PM JST - 5th February
I think the Ambassador needs to ask himself a few questions.
1. Why is it that when economic times were good, many Japanese flocked to places like Hawaii and the rest of America to buy many things much cheaper than they could in Japan?
2. Even a bit closer, why is it that many Japanese like to shop on the US bases in Japan for the same U.S. brand goods that they could buy off base, but for three times the price?
Japan has some of the highest tariffs on imported goods, so now that some in the US want to at least "fair trade" and let others have to pay the same tariffs that we have to pay in their markets the world gets upset.

I love the way Obama seems to have reversed himself on this. I remember during the primaries he was bashing Hillary for helping Bill get NAFTA started, and how he said that he would revise NAFTA to make it better for the American Industry. But now it seems he is "rethinking" his position on this one, so as to not become too unpopular with the rest of the world. To be fair and not be accused of "ODS" (Obama Derrangement Syndrome), John McCain himself has said that he would like to propose an amendment to the stimulus bill to strike the "Buy American" out of it. Either way, they both (Rep. and Dems) will wind up screwing the American workers on this.

I just hope that when all of this "stimulus" begins, that the "Buy American" will also mean buy American labor, and not get our new "super highways" and green jobs going to an influx of illegal or "guest workers" that helped to get us in the mess that we are in now (both parties are to blame for that).
apecNetworks at 07:14 PM JST - 5th February

Correction:

"and the same setup NOW gives off the same feel that emanated from the Clinton Administration."
alphawolf at 10:12 PM JST - 5th February

I bet the Japanese wouldn't hesistate to do this for Japan if they thought it would benefit them. Whites seem to cave to the demands of all other races. We build their industries, then are willingly enslaved by them..
OssanAmerica at 01:15 AM JST - 6th February

Firstly, it's not just Japan, it's Canada, the EU who are all up in arms over this. So all these arguments about Japan and the US as if this were some bilateral trade issue are missing the point. Al, of our trading partners as well as the WTO itself have pointed out that we'd be in breach. Personally, if this is for the building of US infrastructure I don't see anything wrong with "setting a preference" for US materials such as steel, wood, cement, etc. I am certain that all nations, Japan at lest, does the same. Furthermore, to be honest I wouldn't want our highways built with "cheap" Chinese building materials. However, as this clause covers manufactured goods I have to question whether there are US made versions of all items needed.
yabits at 01:32 AM JST - 6th February

The ‘‘Buy American’’ provision in the nearly $900 billion bill being deliberated in the Senate would limit using any of the stimulus fund to buy steel, iron or other manufactured goods for infrastructure projects to those made in the United States.

This is not very accurate. Whoever tagged the provision as "Buy American" -- and it's officially called that in stimulus package -- was almost intending to raise a red flag in order to have the thing defeated.

First of all, the "infrastructure projects" mentioned above are all US public buildings and US public works. Essentially these are projects owned by "we the People" (of the United States).

Secondly, the provision contains stipulations that US iron, steel and manufactured goods are to be used when adequate supplies can be obtained in a timely fashion. Also, that the use of US-made goods is approved only when the cost of the project comes within 25% of the cost if non-US goods were used.

Lastly and most importantly, this is supposed to be a stimulus package enacted in a crisis situation. US taxpayer dollars paid to people working in US industries will, by economic ripple effect, create more dollars, many of which will come back to the Treasury in the form of taxes to help pay back the cost of the package. Taxpayer dollars spent on Chinese iron and steel will not, and will serve to further undermine the value of the dollar.

What is most unfortunate about the provision is that it should have contained some very clear time limits, which reflect the unique and extenuating circumstances we find ourselves in. I have to criticize President Obama for not showing any support for this provision from the start, and appearing to knuckle under as soon as foreigners started to raise objections.
yabits at 01:38 AM JST - 6th February

However, as this clause covers manufactured goods I have to question whether there are US made versions of all items needed.

I don't know about all, but certainly heavy equipment would be a large part of it, which includes companies like Caterpillar and Komatsu America.

Obama might be advised to remind the Japanese ambassador of that last one.
Raymasaki at 01:00 AM JST - 13th February

Alot of countrie do that. I do believe we should creat Jobs here & improve spending, But we must also support our Allies Like Japan. sending Jobs to China & India is what has messed things up. in the 80's & 90's we bought JP cars & Electronics everything was ok. we have to Balance stuff out, WE Need to export as well as Import.