Abe defends Japanese automakers against U.S. import probe

Donald Trump is investigating Japanese automobile has lead to many American auto industry workers' suicides,homicides,family violences or doing drugs of these tragedes has caused since Japanese automobile imports has caused.Can be traced back to 1970s. This is his definition of foreign autos is a threat to US national security. Mr.Abe you are in big troubles!

You can go to Europe and see decent selection of Ford cars made for local markets: Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta, or even Sierra back in 1990's. Same with Korean cars, you can buy them everywhere except here.

Why in Thailand you see mostly Japanese cars? Because those companies pay to Thai government to keep import duties high to keep the import out. I am pretty sure similar practices take place in Japan too.

How much leverage does Mr.Abe's 'Convincing' can do to people like Trump? He doesn't cares any advices, his intention is not to solve any his so called trade disputes instead he is seeking to stir up troubles! This is what Abe Dan has failed to understand him!

Trump has little to lose.

Go for it, Trump! A tax an metals will be swallowed by American producers or appear obliquely in price rises, but add some $8,000 to the price of a Toyota or Honda and pitchforks will be out. As usual, Trump is all impetuous verbal diarrhea backed up with zero.

I agree with most of the above here. While I am no fan of Trump whatsoever, the stance he is taking against Japan is right.

The Japanese have been predatory mercantilists for too long, and its time the pips were squeezed.

I have to agree with that

American companies do not bother making a vehicle made just for the Japanese market

This is nonsense, America has always produced numerous right-hand-drive cars. Ford has sold some of top-selling cars in the UK and in Australia, all are RHD. In fact, Ford sold three of the world’s top-selling cars, the Fiesta, Focus, and Combi-van. The cars were compact, cheap, and came with RHD, yet Japan did not allow them to sell here.

Give 'em hell, Donnie. The Japanese have been predatory mercantilists for too long, and its time the pips were squeezed.

RecklessToday 09:35 am JST

The era of Japanese predatory manufacturing, by using a cheap currency to weaken and kill foreign rivals in their home country with a cost advantage, is coming to an end. Hopefully Japan can do something besides make cars to save their economy.

LOL. Hate to break it to you but that era was over 28 years ago.

Trump is trying to force Japanese to buy cars that even Americans dont want to buy. My its time for detroit to review its marketing and build a nice solid economical car everyone wants to buy.

Japan and it’s useful idiot apologists have had it too good, for too long. Victims of their own success, their kicking, screaming and well-honed propensity to temper tantrums will gain them zero traction. The sooner they admit to themselves that the old ways have served their purpose and that it’s time to move on, the better off they’ll be.

Another Summit should be organized to discuss this. PM Abe will smooth this over with Trump. Japan automakers are big job and wealth creators for USA. Not a National Security risk. Japan should be given an exception to the new import tariffs.

With the exception of the Jeep the driver sits on the wrong side of the car. The European cars I have seen, the driver sits on the right side of the car. American companies do not bother making a vehicle made just for the Japanese market.

It’s maybe time Japan slows its dependency on the US for its growth.

Japan has been buying US debt to keep the US rolling (like many other countries) but DT is changing the rules with America First policy (nothing against that policy)

Japan has a problem with having too many eggs in the same basket.

Abe should grow a pair.

Trump is trying to force the Japanese to buy vehicles they do not want to purchase. 

Trump is not trying to force Japanese to do anything. He just wants fair trade.

They are expensive due to their large size ...

Old hat. American cars are now economical, compact and right hand drive can be manufactured.

Nothing like seeing an oversize American car rusting on the showroom floor.

Never seen that before.

Has anyone ever priced an American car in Japan? You’ll find they cost about 40% more than they do in America. Japanese people want to buy things they can afford to buy, but Japan’s companies want them to buy only Japanese goods.

Before someone says something stupid about how American cars are not suitable for Japan, what about other cars? British, French, Italian, and ofher makers also have their cars priced out of the market in Japan. And, how about Korean cars? Korean cars sell very well in America and Europe, but they are not sold at all in Japan, and neither are Korean televisions or cameras.

Trump needs to stick on this issue, like Germany did.

Trump is trying to force the Japanese to buy vehicles they do not want to purchase. Americans vehicles are "sodai gomi" and are expensive to register. They are expensive due to their large size and lack of dealers. Nothing like seeing an oversize American car rusting on the showroom floor. Japanese companies make vehicles just for the American market. Quality vehicles that Americans want to purchase. Many of them are made in the USA. Trump is just pandering to the right wing of his republican party as usual.

Abe speaks like he know Japan is taking advantage of the status quo and wants nothing to change. Unfortunately for him, the US finally has a President that does not just apologize and look the other way.