Ray Payne comments

Japan has many hidden trade barriers that must be removed. These hidden trade barriers are more detrimental to free trade than the taxes themselves.

A little chopped celery, with a little chopped onion and some mayonnaise, mixes with some canned tuna in a bowl for spreading - makes a great toasted tuna salad sandwich that goes well with a large glass of sweet milk.

Let me explain sweet milk, in the American south, it is sweet milk (regular milk) or buttermilk. One does not go into a small grocery store in the south and ask for milk, as the response will be, "Honey, do you want sweet milk or buttermilk?"

The French omelet may satisfy some but not the great majority such as customers at the Rose Garden in Okinawa. Customers gobble up those large 3 egg omelets, Loaded with choices of bacon, ham or sausages, lots of assorted cheese.

Protectionism? First they should discuss their own countries protectionism, how to dismantle their there trade barriers and open their own markets for free trade.

Wilbur Ross stated the truth that cannot be denied. The truth is the truth.

(The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations.)

How about bilateral relations with the U. S.?

Negotiations on tariffs and trade are now in very active mode with China. This is exactly as it is supposed to play out. Make threats and stick to them, then negotiate a workable deal. That is exactly what is happening. China cannot afford a real trade war with the US, so in the end it will get resolved.

In the end there will be new trade deals with everyone. Trade is like N Korea. Until now, nobody believed Trump meant what he says, and now they know better. They only had to understand how Trump operates, and that he is really willing to walk away and let the other side crawl back.

Things will get worked out because that is what developers do best- they find ways to get the project built. It just took 15 months for the world to understand Trump is prepared to walk from the table and take the heat is key to any negotiation, and Trump plays that card well. Not understanding what he is really willing to do is an asset, not a liability. His oft stated line- we will see what happens is just a way to leave everyone guessing.

TPP is not good for the U. S, as all hidden trade barriers would remain in place. These trade barriers are more detrimental to free trade than the tariffs themselves.

Bilateral, one on one trade agreement is the only way to go for the U. S. to achieve truly free trade and this Japan does not want.

Japan has bilateral free trade agreements with other countries, so why not the U.S.? What is Japan afraid of ?

Some know little about trade, yet they make off the cuff comments.

Motegi is treading water with delaying tactics hoping America will back down. It is not only agriculture that Japan is afraid of, Japan has many hidden trade barriers for soft lines and hard lines as well.

U. S. A. - Stay the course. A bilateral, one on one, free trade agreement only.

Japan must dismantle the many hidden barriers that drive up the cost of American imports.

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma should have been moved a long time ago to Kadena Air Base where there are two large long runways seldom used, with lots of room on the backside where the Navy is located for additional buildings or moved to the backside of Camp Hansen where there is ample room for a runway such as Futenma has. Hansen is where the troops are.

U. S. A. Japan bilateral trade agreement for truly free trade. Japan must dismantle the many disguised hidden trade barriers that drive up the cost of imported American goods. These barriers are more detrimental to free trade than the tariffs themselves. Donald Thump- stay the course for truly free trade.

tinawatanabeToday  04:35 pm JST

Japan's tariff on American rice is 787 % plus freight and insurance, plus 4 levels of 8%

Pray tell me the name of a market where I can buy American rice?

ClippetyClopToday  01:25 pm JST

Hidden trade barriers to inhibit and restrict and drive up the cost of American products are many. Try looking into the Japanese requirements for processed food additives for one.

Hidden trade barriers are more detrimental to free trade that the tariffs themselves.

sangetsu03Today  12:14 pm JST

You say it well and so true.

Amazing comments about free trade from those that know little about free trade that is not free trade because of the many hidden trade barriers.

I personally have experienced hidden trade barriers with imported processed food from America that drives up the cost of U. S. products.

The U. S. should accept only, a one on one, bilateral trade agreement with Japan.

TPP countries, each have their own agendas. American trade should not be sacrificed to support their causes.

President Trump is correct, no TPP. Only a bilateral trade agreement with Japan.

Japan has bilateral trade agreements with other countries and so it should be with the U. S.

Keep in mind, for free trade, trump wants a fair playing field for truly free trade.

Without the tricks of hidden trade barriers that drive up the cost of American goods.

Japan has been running a huge trade surplus annually with the U. S. for many years. This Japan is afraid of losing with a bilateral trade agreement that would dismantle trade barriers now in place.

TPP is not free trade, these TPP countries have many hidden trade barriers that are detrimental to America for truly free trade.

Trump most stay the course and demand a bilateral, one on one, trade agreement with Japan. Japan does not want to do this. Japan has bilateral trade agreements with other countries.

What is Japan afraid of?

Trump should not enter TPP - TPP is a trap to to continue huge trade imbalances in favor of countries such as Japan.

Japan has bilateral one on one trade agreements with other countries such as Australia. What is Japan afraid of to have a bilateral trade agreement with the United States of America?

Trump should stay the course, bilateral one on one trade agreements only. Stay out of TPP that has many hidden trade barriers such as TPP member Japan. Although, Australia is a TPP member, Australia also has with Japan a bilateral trade agreement with low tariffs on agricultural and beef products.

Again, what is Japan afraid of with a bilateral trade agreement with the U. S.? Is it that Trump wants a fair playing field to dismantle trade barriers that are inhibiting truly free trade.

When it comes to hidden trade barriers that greatly drive up the cost, I do know what I am talking about. I have imported from America corn products, pork, coffee, processed food and other. I have imported from Australia vegetables and fruit juice. I have imported from New Zealand, tomatoes and strawberries.

Japan has many tricks of the trade and so do other countries, to inhibit, beef, agricultural and processed food products from entering their countries. Again, hidden trade barriers must be dismantled for truly free trade and this can only be done with bilateral trade agreements.

Again and again, what is Japan afraid of with a U. S / Japan bilateral free trade agreement?

Yes Japan will host the meeting, as Japan needs to keep them in line. What is Japan afraid of with a one on one trade agreement with the U.S.?

Both will promote trade protectionism for their own country. Now what?

The answer is an easy one, dismantle the trade barriers in place that restrict the importation of agricultural and processed food. Do not raise the 8% VAT to 10%. With lower food cost, no increased taxes, the economy will improve.

Go for it Donald, do not back down. Offset those huge trade deficits. There is nothing that America cannot make. America can also produce all the food it needs and even enough to feed much of the world.

You are doing the right thing. Demand free trade. America for years, has been had. You are doing the right thing to get a fair playing field so that there will indeed be free trade.

Go on the internet and take a look at what Japan taxes American beef, wheat and rice- plus freight, insurance and 4 levels of 8%.

As long as trade barriers, many hidden and disguised, remain in place that inhibit the importation of American products into other countries such as China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, there will be no free trade. The huge trade surpluses will continue in favor of these countries.

Toshiko,

toshikoToday  03:20 am JST

A. majority of US farm products in USA. Chinese cultivate in own farms.

Toshiko, what you have to say is a joke, America raises enough farm products to feed it'self and much of the world.

China will put tariffs on pork imported from the U. S. This is funny as China now owns one forth of all pork products produced in America that is sold in America and also exported. They will be taxing their own U. S. produced pork.

Among my 40 foot containers of imports I have imported pork to Japan from the U. S. Taxes are heavy for the protection of their pork producers.

I often wonder- those that make wild comments trying to confuse the situation, are they actually engaged in the import of processed food and agricultural products?

With annual huge trade surpluses in China's favor, because of dumping and other unfair trade practices, what would they do to offset these imbalances? Think about it.

Again, all Trump is asking for in East Asia is a fair playing field for truly free trade.