politics

Japan not ready yet to pass non-tariff barrier test: EU trade chief

14 Comments
By Tomasz Janowski

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14 Comments
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Good luck with that.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I hope this doesn't end up being yet another example in which Japan is "left behind."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

EU would be stupid to sign anything with Japan.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

This is so true. When I was teaching English in Japan, all of my students were adults. With 1 set of students, the one who were best at talking,. we often talked about different subjects so as to provide a better background base. On cars, we were looking at it one day because 1 of them wanted to go by a car and he told me he was going to get a good deal. However, when we looked at what it would have been in the states(he was curious), he saw that the same car, made in Japan, shipped thousands of miles away, via boat was thousands of dollars(in American), cheaper than what he was getting and couldn't figure out why. I had to point out that Japan heavily taxes whatever comes in from foreign countries so as to make the domestic products sale better. However, that has the negative impact of then letting the domestic companies sale their cars for more money, but still cheaper than the heavily taxed foreign products; While at the same time, using that money to then make it much cheaper in the foreign markets to grab a bigger share.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Protectionism at its finest. The last thing Japan needs is cheaper, better quality goods available to the masses. It would only cause confusion.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If even Europe is complaining..............

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan and the EU launched talks on one of the world’s most ambitious trade deals last April despite opposition from European carmakers fearing it would boost competition in their backyard without improving their access to the Japanese market.

Somehow, whatever deal is eventually signed, I think that will indeed be the outcome.

Any deal, on any matter, made with Japan has to be absolutely watertight. Nothing can be left to the "spirit of the agreement."

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Talk about one sided talks. While Japanese corporation invest heavily in those regions building production sites to over come the heavy tariffs they place to protect their own market, they talk about protectionism in Japan's face without dropping not as much as a drop in investment for production site in Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"I had to point out that Japan heavily taxes whatever comes in from foreign countries so as to make the domestic products sale better." -- Christopher Lambert

Japan has no tariff on imported cars.

There is a 12.something% tariff on imported tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.

Hey, have you guys ever heard of these things called a "search engines?" These search engine thingies are wonderful. You can research facts before you type fictional nonsense that you wish was true.

http://www.customs.go.jp/english/tariff/2013_4/index.htm

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"While Japanese corporation invest heavily in those regions..."

This is a trade deal, not an investment deal. Pointing to your own overseas investments to justify and maintain your own closed markets doesn't fly anymore.

"Japan has no tariff on imported cars."

Instead it replaced them with a range of non-tariff barriers. Like "kei-cars," a unique Japan-only specification created by Japanese bureaucrats, which grant tax breaks to buyers and owners. Granting tax breaks to people based on the fact that they own a car of a class uniquely Japanese is akin to a tariff.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

There is no tariff to import a car built to kei car specs.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Smart used to make cars in Kei-car specs and received the same tax breaks as any all other kei cars sold within the market.

If the Europeans were willing to invest and produce in Japan they would be more competitive which Japanese manufacturers did around the world instead of complain and go to their governments to call foul.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Kei car strategy is aimed at reducing scale, raising unit costs for small players and newcomers to levels that make them noncompetitive.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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