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U.S. steps up pressure on Japan to make good on trade promises

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a centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s push to expand the United States’ presence in Asia, is growing as talks enter their fifth year.

And that is all this is about - the US wants to tell everyone in the world what to do.

-1 ( +16 / -17 )

You can't have fair trade, if the Japanese don't want trade fairly.

11 ( +17 / -6 )

Export US automobile to Japan: Is Mr. Froman hoping made in USA cars to export to Japan? GM and Ford make cars in China, Well. Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Honda have factories in USA. Is USA talking about to export these Japanese brand cars to Japan?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Oh no, so Japan is reluctant to hand over it's agricultural industries when its trying to boost its economy? but why?<sarcasm

I'm sorry but I feel the US is being too pushy, Like Fukuppy says (nice name btw) the US is trying to bully Japan into a deal that honestly wont benefit the economy or country, or other countries NEARLY as much as they're saying it will.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Open the farm market? With what? Japan needs all it can get from it's homeland. The north is contaminated and the weather for this season doesn't look promising for the rest. Obama, don't you have enough. Instead of taking from Japan, how about giving!

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

I'm sorry but I feel the US is being too pushy, Like Fukuppy says (nice name btw) the US is trying to bully Japan into a deal that honestly wont benefit the economy or country, or other countries NEARLY as much as they're saying it will.

Then why have trade at all? If the Japanese want to play hard ball and not fair, don't trade. The Japanese want to be whiny, then they should just forget about ANY trade deals.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

Autos made by "American Brand" companies are not suitable for the Japanese market. There are no yellow plate models and the smallest is a 330 plate. They are too big and use too much fuel. So it is the "big 3" that are the real reason behind slow sales. Oh lastly where would they park the things?

2 ( +10 / -8 )

The Japanese don't shun American food. They import over $13 billion worth of U.S. farm products each year. The politicians remember their friends. The LDP draws much of its bedrock support straight from the rice fields. The simple fact is that a surprising number of Japanese more or less accept the high price of farm products as something of a social tax begetting a host of readily discernible benefits. If you want to export automobiles to Japan, at least install the steering wheel on the "right" side.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I just hope the results are that we are finally able to get a decent choice of rice - Jasmine, basmati etc it's rediculous that currently we are not allowed to order online or bring in foreign rice.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Then why have trade at all? If the Japanese want to play hard ball and not fair, don't trade. The Japanese want to be whiny, then they should just forget about ANY trade deals.

I'm not saying they shouldn't trade, but can you not understand their reluctance to just drop tariffs and abandon their own local companies, forcing them to increase costs again just to try and balance out the decrease in sales which I'm sure are already going to take a hit due to the tax increase.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, a Republican, said Japan should be cut out of the talks if it is not ready to make the necessary commitments.

I second that. Japan was last to the party, and make a lot of promises to talk their way in. They either need to fish or cut bait. Companies and countries don't need Japan nearly as much as they used to, say 30 years ago.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

@YuriOtani: Made in USA Japanese brand cars are large. Beside that. they are left-side handle cars for USA roads. The cars were built originally Japanese automaker heads believed Japanese women will never drive/ Ameriircan women are larger than Japanese men. This concept hasn't changed with Japanese automakers in Japan or in USA.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Japanese politicians inherit father to son their positions in farm districts where they are "political families". Farmers own politicians. The farm thing is not going to happen. Plus, US could put a little more energy in trying to sell in Japan. Ever see a US car commercial or ad? Never. I buy US grapefruit.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Japan should just accept free trade. Give up on the stalinist regime for farming already.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Japan should get out of the TPP now while it still can.

In the end the TPP benefits ONLY the guys who do nothing, but just skim the profits off the top.

We don't need further restrictions on our dwindling freedom.

And we don't need unlabelled genetically modified food.

Local produce is much better for you. Transporting food across huge distances means that it has to be genetically modified or sprayed with some rather dubious chemicals to make sure it doesn't go rotten on the journey.

Is being able to eat strawberries in December such a big deal?

When I lived in Sapporo, most of the produce was imported. So you could eat anything at any time of year. Since coming to Okinawa, I've gotten used to the yearly rhythm of what fruit and vegetables are available when. And we adjust what we eat to this. Of course, I haven't done a double blind study on whether this is actually healthier or not, it just feels better. And it certainly TASTES better.

I don't see any advantage in the TPP, not for us at any rate.

For those who invest heavily in Monsanto et al., there is, of course, a big reason to push the talks through.

TPP is not about the "greatest good for the greatest number."

It's about a few guys ripping off a whole lot.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

Well, I hope Japan does not compromise on the farming thing.

Rice is pretty much sacred to the Japanese, and I do not want to see foreign companies driving Japanese farmers out of business.

As for the car thing, meh. American cars can't compete with Japanese ones, so I am not worried about it.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

toshiko you prove my point the Japanese car companies build cars Americans will buy. The Americans do not buy cars Japanese will buy.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Japan is in serious decline, what I have witnessed over 20+ years is depressing & there seems to be NOTHING on the J-govt's agenda to improve things. I want to see Japan do better but they need to make changes domestically & with regards to foreign trade. Japan is very effective with their non-tariff barriers & the rest of the world should DEMAND it end & put Japan on notice, no improvements then expect Japan specific tariffs/quotas or similar, Japan has had it cake & eaten for far too long, needs to end.

If Japan wont budge on agriculture etc they should be shown the door forth with. Like I said I want to see Japan do well but am sick & tired of the BS that one has to put up with in Japan & trade, Japan needs to change to be able to continue to trade internationally, if it doesn't want too then it needs to pay a higher price, life is too short to have to put up with the brutally high costs of living in Japan, this is sending Japan into a nose dive with or without TPP etc.

So Japan what are you going to do!?!?!?!

13 ( +15 / -2 )

The simple fact is, American Farmers are far more organized at worldwide food distribution. This scares Japanese Farmers as they have little experience on how to sell and promote their products abroad.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

MGigante,

If rice is so sacred to the Japanese, the Japanese will keep on buying Japanese rice even after foreign rice hits the market less the 700% tariffs.

We have to remember that the average age of farmers in Japan is something like 66 years old. Japan cannot keep the system the way it is.

The sector should be deregulated. If people wanna grow rice the traditional Japanese way, with no corporate involvement (or the economies of scale it could bring), go ahead. No problem with that if it's someone's retirement dream.

But it's not the government's role to prevent people with new ideas from competing with them for consumers, and the consumers will be better off for it with the choice.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Like NAFTA, TPP is a death trap.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Omg.... Step up to the plate? Lol of what? The "failure world series"?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Insisting Japan buys (more) foreign rice because your local automotive industries can't keep up? Well, that makes sense, not.

I don't see why untold numbers should be forced to give up their livelihoods and place further strain on the rest of the populace just because a few fat cat automakers, in an entirely unrelated industry, can't compete.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Rice is pretty much sacred to the Japanese, and I do not want to see foreign companies driving Japanese farmers out of business.

They should institute some serious reforms in order to drag the agriculture industry out of the feudal age and make it profitable and competitive. But that won't happen because politicians in over-represented rural areas like the farmers to be weak, dependent and obligated.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@bertie

In the end the TPP benefits ONLY the guys who do nothing, but just skim the profits off the top.

We don't need further restrictions on our dwindling freedom.

Who's "WE?" How do you play into this? You're NOT Japanese.

And we don't need unlabelled genetically modified food.

And Japan in ANY WAY whatsoever doesn't modify foods? Be careful before you answer.

Local produce is much better for you. Transporting food across huge distances means that it has to be genetically modified or sprayed with some rather dubious chemicals to make sure it doesn't go rotten on the journey.

I agree, local produce is better, but Japan can't meet the growing demands, this is another reason why stores like Costco are popping up all over the place to meet these demands. And don't insinuate that every item or produce that America sends to Japan has some chemical sprayed on it. Have you seen the apples, strawberries or tomatoes and other foods that are grown in Japan lately? Dubious, certainly NOT, right?

Is being able to eat strawberries in December such a big deal?

No, since the peak of Strawberry season is Usually late December until early March. They prefer cooler, dryer climates. My home state California is THE largest producer and exporter of Strawberries, in 2011 in production tons, it harvested around 1,312,960 tons and 80% of that is exported.

When I lived in Sapporo, most of the produce was imported. So you could eat anything at any time of year. Since coming to Okinawa, I've gotten used to the yearly rhythm of what fruit and vegetables are available when. And we adjust what we eat to this. Of course, I haven't done a double blind study on whether this is actually healthier or not, it just feels better. And it certainly TASTES better.

Then you and the rest of Japan should be Ok.

I don't see any advantage in the TPP, not for us at any rate.

Once the deal goes through, you'll see.

For those who invest heavily in Monsanto et al., there is, of course, a big reason to push the talks through.

TPP is not about the "greatest good for the greatest number."

It's about a few guys ripping off a whole lot.

But Japan is NOT already ripping people off at the grocery lines??? How's that consumption tax working for you?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

U.S. steps up pressure on Japan to make good on trade promises

Wow, what a complete load of bs this article is. I mean even the title is complete bs. Japan never promised to lower those tariffs, it has ALWAYS maintained it wanted those tariffs excluded. The author is completely biased and the entire article is a load of transparent propaganda. Honestly JT, how could you even include this article? Do you have even the faintest hint of journalistic integrity? Perhaps you should just change the JT banner to the red white and blue and at leas then you'd be being a bit more honest about your biases.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

if japan wasnt willing to make concessions on agriculture, then why did they even join. Ill tell you because the want a free trade with the US like the south koreans, whom by the way have opened there agriculture with the exception of rice. if you cant meet the standards that the other TPP countries require then just leave and stop wasting everybodies time.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Frankly speaking, if the USA speaks about free trade they mean only free trade for US products but put administrative barriers on foreign supplier. Hint: IRS and foreign banks, IT products from China .... and and and!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

fair trade and Levis. Has anyone noticed that US retailers are no longer allowed to ship Levis to Japan? This all started last summer I believe. I used to order from JCPenneys or other retailers. While these retailers ship to Uganda and Kazakstan, they are no longer allowed to ship to Japan (although it is the third largest economy on earth). Now our choices are either inferior japanese jeans or pay 14000 yen for a pair of Levis. Talk about unfair. Why is this and who do I lobby?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's not about the cars, frankly speaking Ford and GM compete with J-brands in every market except Japan and Japanese consumers have every right to feel protective about our cars - not to mention they are really the best in the world for the money. That's a political football and not the deal breaker, agriculture will be.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

YuriOtani: "The Americans do not buy cars Japanese will buy." Oh, really? My parents drive a Prius.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There are just too many ignorant comments coming from the pro-anything Japan side. No one is "forcing" Japan to buy rice. They are requesting that Japan offer the same access to foreign rice that other countries offer Japan. Why should Japan get what they want but not give anything back in return?

No one's forcing Japanese to buy American cars. They are simply requesting that Japan stop taxing and putting prohibitively high tariffs automatically on every car that is imported into Japan. Other countries don't tax Japanese cars like the Japanese do other countries: this is the problem. Why should Japan get what they want with automobiles in other countries and not give back anything in return?

The people here saying "America doesn't build the cars Japanese want to drive" is pure nonsense. Have you ever seen the cars Ford produces with Opel in Europe? Obviously not. In fact, this ridiculously untrue opinion is exactly what Americans said about Japanese cars back in the 1970s. How did that turn out?

The fact is, American companies are smart: they KNOW that the Japanese will TARIFF any cars they design for the local market to be prohibitively expensive when compared to the unfairly cheap domestic models, so until the barriers are lowered, why should automakers make cars that will not be allowed to compete fairly based on their merits, but on some protectionist bureaucrat's unfair tariff barriers? (And be sure, this is not about "Japanese don't want", but rather, "Japanese don't know what they could have because the government doesn't even think you should have a choice in the first place!")

Japan needs to put up or shut up, and send Abe packing. If Japanese products and produce are so great and amazing, what is everyone worried about? People would choose Brand Japan and Foreign Brand would rot on the shelves and in the showrooms. However, I have a hunch that this wouldn't happen: people who are anti-trade are not confident about their precious Japanese products! They are truly afraid that the Japanese people, when actually given the adult right to choose for themselves, will (gasp!) choose foreign products much more often than people realize...

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Both sides are just posturing to get the best possible deal, for their constituencies, and the best possible deal overall is where everyone is equally unhappy. This "theatre" is just to set those expectations.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I just hope the results are that we are finally able to get a decent choice of rice - Jasmine, basmati etc it's rediculous that currently we are not allowed to order online or bring in foreign rice.

Is that true? I like Japanese rice so I never tried to order any from outside when I was there, but I do remember buying imported long grain rice from a Brazilian supermarket, so you can get other rice.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

this has industry and large government all over it. it is not something the people in the usa want, but then again- nothing president obama is doing this semester is done with the people in mind.

the only thing TPP really brings to the USA is the IPP coverage- as if that will really cut out the counterfeits. the additional ability to gut out Japan's agricultural livelihood is a secondary - and nice- one .

they wish to import in california rice, fruit from mexico beef from the usa, then start buying the land up in Japan.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@briansAPR. 04, 2014 - 12:48PM JST YuriOtani: "The Americans do not buy cars Japanese will buy." Oh, really? My parents drive a Prius.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

I believe Yuri meant smaller right-side handle cars that will fit to Japanese street Japanese people buy. Japanese automakers in USA build left-side handle larger cars for American customers in U/SA. My daughters are 5 feet 4 inches and when they visit my brother in Japan, they can not find rental cars large enough to enable to fit them. Beside that, they don;t know how to use right-side handle cars.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan needs to put up or shut up, and send Abe packing.

I agree with most of your post except this. Japan weren't even in the talks before Abe came along. So I don't see how sending him packing is going to fix anything.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Last time I checked there were plenty of foreign products in Japan - software, hardware, food, you name it. If it is what the people want - they will buy it. They bought from me when I was a trader because I imported what they wanted.

But no, let's dictate what they want. Look at Japan's feudal agriculture? So what? What does how the food is grown have to do with anything, unless it's harmful to the people eating it?

@Bass

You make a point about Bertie not being Japanese, but he's obviously a long term resident. I tend to agree with you more than he on a lot of things but this is not one of them. If he is being genuinely patriotic towards his adopted country, then good on him. At the same time, zainichi gaijin shouldn't go on about their rights, then stab foreigners in the back and say things like that when it suits them either.

The world is not some giant Walmart. Local people should neither be forced out of business or held hostage as to what they buy. Big business might be efficient, but in the end you are either with them or you are screwed.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@BNlightened Japan does not put tarrif on American cars. It is America that puts tarrif on Japanese cars.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan in ANY WAY whatsoever doesn't modify foods? Be careful before you answer.

You need to be more careful in your reading. Bertie wasn't claiming that Japan doesn't have any modified food. He said we don't want any unlabelled modified food (or heck, any unlabelled anything - I want to know what I'm putting in my mouth.) like the American food giants are trying to inflict on the American market, telling them that labelling would 'confuse' them and cost more money. Sheer poppycock.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/labels-for-gmo-foods-are-a-bad-idea/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods.html?_r=0

the peak of Strawberry season is Usually late December until early March

Depends where you are. The shops have been full of outrageously-priced red berries for months now, but I grow my own outdoors, and all I have on my plants at the moment is flowers. I don't expect any fruit till later this month, maybe May, depending on the weather. The peak of the commercial strawberry season in Japan might be late December, but that's because everyone wants strawberries on their fake Christmas cakes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

US car companies make plenty of cars that are very suitable for Japan and also that are right hand drive. Ford Fiesta and Focus anyone?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There are just too many ignorant comments

Well, for the sake of not getting my comment removed, I will refrain from writing a sarcastic reply here...

No one is "forcing" Japan to buy rice. They are requesting that Japan offer the same access to foreign rice that other countries offer Japan. Why should Japan get what they want but not give anything back in return?

Will the US drop their agricultural subsidies in exchange? We could have a much better and wider free trade agreement already if it weren't for the US and EU to block all progress in the WTO.

They are simply requesting that Japan stop taxing and putting prohibitively high tariffs automatically on every car that is imported into Japan.

Look, it is the US which is taxing imported cars. In Japan the rate is zero. It is the US industry who doesn't want to open the domestic market and they're coming up with all kind of nonsense to get political support.

Have you ever seen the cars Ford produces with Opel in Europe?

You are aware that Opel/Vauxhall have been in deep trouble since many years? Nonetheless, I think Ford and GM would be much more successful in Japan if they stopped their self-defeating strategy to prioritize US-made cars and would focus on selling cars made by their European and Korean subsidiaries.

BTW, Opel is a subsidiary of GM, not Ford.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Lasseiz faire is a Utopian concept that only exists in textbooks. Every G7 country has tariffs and quotas of varying degrees amongst other restrictive trade legislations. To site the unfair practices of individual countries in the TPP negotiations is a futile argument along the lines of the evil versus the lesser evil. The successful negotiation of the TPP makes up the majority of the third arrow of Abenomics where the delay has created criticism of the incumbent Government and failure of which will create an even further delayed contrasting Government strategy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I read a lot about how Japanese food and autos are superior to that of overseas. I'm not arguing whether that's true nor accurate but if that was, why not open up the markets? Let the consumers decide!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

why not open up the markets?

It 's US that refuses to drop the tariff on Japanese cars. Japan manufactures cars in US in order to avoid tariffs. I don't know why US constantly accuses Japan citing tariff that does not exist or that Japan is not doing enough.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Look, it is the US which is taxing imported cars. In Japan the rate is zero. It is the US industry who doesn't want to open the domestic market and they're coming up with all kind of nonsense to get political support.

There is no tax at all, whatsoever, on any Japanese car sold in America, period. Unless you are old enough to remember the war, there has been no tax on Japanese cars in your lifetime. Only heavy trucks and motorcycles over 750cc from Japan are taxed. Japan does not charge any tax on imported cars, which was an agreement reached in an earlier treaty. But, all imported cars are subject to individual inspection, and are distributed by third parties which have financial ties to Japanese domestic manufacturers, which drives up the cost of an imported car by anywhere from 15% to 40%. This non-tariff scam to bloat the prices of imports is why American manufacturers do not want Japan involved in TPP, and why they do not trust Japan to abide by the agreement even if the Japanese sign the treaty.

America has never bothered to design a car to compete with Japanese domestic cars, as Japan would never permit such a car to be sold without finding a way to make it uncompetitive with Japanese manufacturers. America has built many cars for the European market which have been successful, the Ford Combi van is one of the most well known vehicles in Europe, and the old Fiesta and Escort models were the world's top selling cars, but you will never see one in Japan.

Here are a few examples of why TPP would be good for Japan. Today I bought a box of 40 tablets aspirin at a Tokyo drug store. The cost was 1300 yen. In America it costs $11.99 for a bottle of 250 tablets. I bought a baguette at a local bakery, the cost was 290 yen, in Europe the cost would be about 80 cents. I bought a pair of Danner leather hiking boots at ABC Mart, the price was 59000 yen, the cost in America is $279. I was going to buy the boots online in America, and have them shipped to Japan, but the import tax would be $225. Levis in America are about $30, in Japan they are nearly 10000 yen.

Japan ranks almost at the bottom the list of industrialized countries for household disposable income, that is money left over after paying for regular expenses. Much of this is because of the high cost of imported foods and goods. In Japan, the average family pays nearly three times as much for food as the average American family, and more than twice as much as the average European family.

The lack of imported competition in the domestic marketplace makes Japanese goods more expensive. You will pay anywhere from 20% to 40% more for a Sony, Nikon, or Panasonic product in Japan than you would pay in America.

For those of you who prefer that things in Japan stay as they are, you must be real masochists. You must love taking it in the backside from the various business and agricultural lobbies in Japan. You must love stretching each yen you earn much further than Americans or Europeans must stretch their dollars and Euros.

Japan needs to get out of TPP, and stop wasting everyone else's time. No other country really wants Japan as part of TPP, no other country needs Japan to be part of TPP. On the other hand, Japan needs TPP more than any of the other countries involved in the treaty. Japan has by far the largest to lose if it is excluded.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

"U.S. businesses upset about Indian companies that produce cheap generic versions of medicines"

Too bad so many people can't afford the U.S. pharmaceutical companies' medicines.

"U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman"

Any relation to the sausage king of Chicago Abe Froman?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There is no tax at all, whatsoever, on any Japanese car sold in America, period.

Because they are made in USA.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

brians meant to write American Brands do not build cars that Japanese want to buy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kick Japan out of the TPP talks. Should never invited Japan in the first place. We all know that the Japanese government will keep on with the farm subsidy. The farmers have the politicians by the short hair and things aren't going to chance any time soon.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There is no tax at all, whatsoever, on any Japanese car sold in America, period.

There are import tariffs ranging from 2.5% to 12.5% depending on the type of car.

But, all imported cars are subject to individual inspection

This is only the case when the car does not have a Japanese type approval. Any maker can obtain a type approval of his cars. This is exactly the same as when you import a car to the US, just that Japan allows some exemptions while the US does not. The US would like to have Japan accept the US type approval so that the makers don't have to do double qualifications. Fine, but it should also go the other way around.

and are distributed by third parties which have financial ties to Japanese domestic manufacturers

Any maker can freely set up his own distribution network in Japan. Nobody is forced to sell his competitor's cars. This is called a free market.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan is not a fair country, so how could you have fair trade with it? It's been like that for decades, especially during the 1980s. Japan only has a trade deficit overall now because Sony et al is tanking. But it still has a huge trade surplus with the U.S.

Maybe rice should not be allowed into Japan to protect the country's food production in this essential grain. But the market should remove various non-tarfiff barriers and investigate oligopolistic distribution that keeps mostly Japanese goods on the shelves in stores.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

What a load of crap! The only country that is enthusiastic about TPP is the US, or should I say, US corporations?

If TPP gets passed, then Japan is going to become a colony of companies like Monsanto. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN OTHER DEVELOPING NATIONS! Neoliberalism is not the answer.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

What a load of crap! The only country that is enthusiastic about TPP is the US, or should I say, US corporations?

Completely correct, Thomas -- because you have your facts ALL WRONG. The truth is four of the other countries -- Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore -- were already working on the TPP before the U.S. ever got involved. But don't let that get in the way of your anti-U.S. rant.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Automotives: Many years ago, a politician who was against Japanese automakers in USA was asked What American products do you use?" He shouted, "I only play NEC, Sanyo, TV and have NEC and Sony computer. For my car, I only have Honda and Toyota," Well, instead of making cars for USA need, automakers created their plants in USA. GM and Ford? They did exodus to China. They barely survive in Michigan after US Govt supplied rescue fund. Detroit is bankrupted. So, this auto export to Japan must be exporting Toyota, Nissan, Nitsubishi, etc cars made in USA to Japan?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Completely correct, Thomas -- because you have your facts ALL WRONG. The truth is four of the other countries -- Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore -- were already working on the TPP before the U.S. ever got involved. But don't let that get in the way of your anti-U.S. rant.

That's exactly right. The usual and typical U.S. Hating crowd (you know who you are) once again exposes themselves as to who they really are. Because of their hatred and distain, they overlooked EXACTLY what you just mentioned. I don't see these same people criticizing those countries. Go figure....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Because they are made in USA.

Wrong. Some models are made in the USA, but many are not. Japanese car transport ships arrive at the port of Los Angeles and other ports in America seven days a week.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

sangetsu03 And with tariff? US government is now trying to make Japanese K car in Japan more expensive to J people. If Japan put tariff on US cars, US would try to stop it rather than make J cars expensive.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

sangetsu03 And with tariff? US government is now trying to make Japanese K car in Japan more expensive to J people. If Japan put tariff on US cars, US would try to stop it rather than make J cars expensive.

This is the first time I have heard of this, though the Japanese government has recently tried to increase the registration/inspection costs of K cars.

Japanese K cars are sold almost exclusively in Japan, as they don't meet minimum safety requirements for passenger cars in America or Europe. Personally, I think it would be great if these cars could be sold everywhere.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

This is the first time I have heard of this, though the Japanese government has recently tried to increase the registration/inspection costs of K cars.

US had been demanding Japan increase tax on K cars (so they thought US cars would become more appealing to J consumers) Are you convinced that Japan put no tariff on US cars, sangetsu03?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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