Ray Payne comments

Ricky,

This is the way a Japanese company inters another countries market place. They will price at a normal price, but extend to wholesalers and retailers large discounts that is not listed in their pricing. They will continue this under the table practice until they have captured a large share of the market- in some instances kill of all competition. A good example is what was America's television industry, RCA, Zenith, Magnovox', Motorola, Emerson and others.

What is Aso afraid of with a one on one bilateral trade agreement with the U.S? Australia has one. Why not the U. S.? All the U. S. is asking for is truly free trade, but Japan refuses to do this, so we have year after year huge trade surpluses in Japan's favor. Japan does not want fair trade with the U. S.

Japan is Australia’s second-largest agricultural, forestry and fisheries market, worth around $5 billion in 2016. It is Australia’s largest market for cheese and beef and an important destination for sugar, seafood and horticulture. Japan has high tariffs of up to 219 per cent on agricultural imports, however, and Australian exporters have to navigate a complex regulatory framework including levies, tariff rate quotas, state trading arrangements and automatic safeguards.

Australia is the first major agricultural exporter to secure a bilateral trade agreement with Japan — delivering a first mover advantage and future-proofing exports against future trade deals our competitors are seeking with Japan.

Key agriculture outcomes include the following.

Beef: Rapid reduction of the high 38.5 per cent tariff on beef, Australia’s largest agricultural export to Japan, worth $1.8 billion in 2016.

Wine: Elimination of the 15 per cent tariff on bottled wine by 2021 and immediate elimination of the tariff on bulk wine.

Dairy: Immediate duty-free quotas for Australian cheese, immediate duty-free access for the growing trade in milk protein concentrates, lactose and casein and new opportunities for ice-cream and frozen yoghurt.

Seafood: Immediate elimination of tariffs up to 9.6 per cent on lobsters, prawns, oysters, crabs and abalone and elimination of tariffs on tuna and Atlantic salmon by 2025.

Horticulture: Immediate elimination of tariffs up to 6 per cent on fresh asparagus, macadamia nuts, almonds, fresh mangoes, and many other products. High tariffs on walnuts (10 per cent) and onions (8.5 per cent) will be eliminated by 2019, while tariffs on apples (17.5 per cent) will be eliminated by 2024. Taking advantage of counter-seasonal production, tariffs on oranges (16 per cent), table grapes (7.8 per cent) and cherries (8.5 per cent) are being progressively eliminated during Australia’s exporting season.

Grains: Immediate duty-free and quota free access for Australian wheat and barley for animal feed and streamlined export arrangements for some Australian wheat varieties. Elimination of the 21.3 per cent tariff on wheat gluten and tariffs on canola and vegetable oils by 2024.

Sugar: Immediate tariff elimination and reduced levies for international standard raw sugar.

Processed Foods: Tariffs up to 29.8 per cent on juice, canned fruit, soup, jam, peanut butter, tea and pet food are being progressively eliminated and Australia is also receiving preferential tariff access for chocolate, honey, biscuits, cakes and breakfast cereals.

Fact sheet last updated September 2017.

China will tax pork from the U. S. This is funny as China already owns 25% of all pork production in America.

President Trump has guts and is not afaid to speak out to tell the truth- which may seem crude to some.

He is no fool, he knows much about the sly clever hidden trade tacticts of our so-called trading partners that has annually, for many years, created huge trade surpluses in their favor.

All Trump has ever asked for is a fair playing field that is truly free trade.

Speaking of cars, many years ago, when Japan was building their automotive industry, every new model of American cars, were purchased by Japan, put on a Japan Airlins freighter and flown to Japan.

The American cars were driven over rough roads, severly tested, taken apart and coppied in many ways. Again, this was years ago.

Trade barriers, yes at that time, American cars intering Japan had to be stripped and rewired. This is also true for refrigeration also.

Japan and there are others that cleverly build in hidden trade barriers to inhibit and greatly drive up the cost of imported goods. Today, especially agricultural and processed food.

I am amaized that many people do not see or understand as to why Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and others have for many years large trade surpluses in their favor.

Yes, Donald Trump is correct, "America has been had! Enough is enough!"

Although Trump is joking- he is pointing out that Japan has many built in trade barriers, this is why there are huge trade surpluses. Some one mentioned Coca-Cola. Tell me one thing about Coca-Cola that is not manufactured in Japan?

One of the best presidents the U. S. has ever had. Get things done, otherwise get out of the way!

America has been had by our so called trading partners with clever trade barriers. It is time for a change!

Donald Trump,

Forget the tariffis! You must studdy the cunning tactics of our so called trading partners that have requirements with hidden trade barriers that restrict and inhibit American products from coming into their countries.

For steel coming into to the U S, set up tolerances in grading the contents of the steel. There must be labratory testing, with reports that could take months to clear prior to release.

This is an example as to how our so called trading partners would do it.

These countries also have low tolerances for many American products. Of many, one example is processed food products, tolerances that inhibit and greatly drive up the cost. These hidden trade barriers are more detrimental to America's exports than the tariffis themselves.

So again Donald, study the cunning trade barrier tactics of our so called trading partners. Do as they do in so called free trade- this way you do not need to increase tariffis- you will accomplish what you are seeking as they have done in the past and are now doing.

The world needs more leaders like President Rodrigo Duterte that tells it like it is, and keeps his promises to the people- to rid the Philippines of illegal drugs

What is the U. N. doing to stop drug dealers from destroying the minds of young people.

President Trump is going about this the wrong way. He should learn the cunning ways of some countries by putting in place stringent hidden trade barriers that restricts products entering their countries with unreasonable tollarances.

In this case, some countries would put in low tollarances for carbon content. Steel shipments upon arrival would have to be set aside for testing that may take months to complete the process. Waiting for laboratory test. Thus greatly driving up the cost of imported steel.

There are countries now pulling these tricks of the trade. For an example of many, processed American food products, such as tollarances set for food additives such as coloring and preservitives. I won't go into detail, there is just too many.

So, Japan and South Korea would like to have an exemption. All they need to do is dismantle their many cleverly disguised hidden trade barriers that restrict American products into their countries. Then we will have fair trade to offset that large surplus in their favor.

There is nothing America cannot manufacture. America's agricultural and processed food products can feed the world.

Also, no US auto company is allowed to own even 50% of their own factory in China, but there are five 100% China-owned EV auto companies in the US.

An American car going to China pays 25% import duty, but a Chinese car coming to the US only pays 2.5%, a tenfold difference.

Owning a chain of 10 dinner house full service restaurants and a bakery, having imported vegetables, fruit, coffee beans, and processed food and other items from Australia, New Zealand and the U. S. for myself and others, I know what I am talking about.

Also having served as ACCO Commettee Chairman for the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce, I know what I am talking about.

Unfortunately for some . . . They do not know what they are talking about when it comes to free trade and what is not truly free trade.

TPP may slash tariffs so they claim, but will they slash their many hidden trade barriers so designed to restrict imports into their countries. As many know, these trade barriers are more detrimental to free trade than the tariffs themselves. They should listen as to what Trump has to say if the want truly free trade. Again, all Trump is asking for is a fair playing field.

"The United States has an $800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our “very stupid” trade deals and policies. Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools our leaders have been. No more!"

Donald Trump

The United States has an $800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our “very stupid” trade deals and policies. Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools our leaders have been. No more! Donald Trump

"We are on the losing side of almost all trade deals. Our friends and enemies have taken advantage of the U.S. for many years. Our Steel and Aluminum industries are dead. Sorry, it’s time for a change! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Donald Trump

"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, which stands to suffer most from Trump's proposed steel and aluminum tariffs, warned that he was prepared to "defend Canadian industry" from the tariffs."

Trump will defend the U. S. against Canada's unfair trade. Trump has the larger army to win the battle.

Go for it Donald! Fight fire with fire. Demand a fair playing field to offset those those hugh trade surpluses created by those countries with their cunning trade practices, that is not trul;y free trade.

Please keep spreading the word. So many people actually think that America is the one being “protectionist” when in reality we are one of the only few countries that is not!

We must have reciprocal tariffs and trade agreements with other countries. Not let them take advantage of us as they are doing and have done in the past.

There comes a time that President Trump must fight fire with fire to off set those huge trade imbalances and to dismantle other countries unfair trade practices- to break down many stonewall trade barriers, some countries have cleverly hidden.

"When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business

with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!" 

In the last half a century, America has been raped and plundered of its industries. One example out of many, is America's lost television industry. What happened to the technology that America had for this industry (Magnavox, Motorola, RCA, Emerson, and others), stolen by other countries that targeted America with television supported by their countries using discounts and under-the-table commissions. The primary reason for the $100 billion trade imbalance is the targeting of American industries with the cunning support of their countries; at the same time setting up unfair trade practices with many hidden trade barriers that inhibit the importation of American products into their countries, thus, greatly driving up the cost of the imported American products which makes it difficult for us to compete, for truly free trade. These trade barriers set up by our so-called trading partners, are more detrimental to American exports than the taxes themselves. What President Trump is demanding is a fair playing field to correct this huge trade imbalance. Again, all Trump is asking for is fairness in trade. Surely this must be understandable to those that are making comments.

Hooray for President Duterte!

Australia- who is the pot to call the kettle black.

For those making bad comments about Trump- ask yourself- what would have done.

Don't worry, Japan knows how to get that technology without spending a lot of money, as it has for the last fifty years. South Korea and Taiwan will be watching on the sidelines.

Now tell us all about those crazy kids that think they are the worlds greatest race car drivers and at war with other drivers, zigging in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed causing accidents and killing innocent people.

SlickdrifterToday 01:45 pm JST

Thank you Slickdrifter, At last we have someone that knows what they are talking about instead of hogwash from others making wild statements, having no idea of the real facts.

For some Japanese, driving a car with left steering is a status symbol of owning an expensive American car.

For years I have owned and driven American Corvettes and Cadillac's, also Japanese cars, left steering, right steering, it does not matter to me at all. Those that are throwing out hog wash about left steering, probably have never driven an American car in Japan.

Thanks again Slickdrifter for dispelling false hogwash from those not in the real world as to what truly free trade is all about. For the education, I owe you a steak and lobster dinner at the world famous SAM's by-the-sea.

Japan is loaded with unseen hidden trade barriers in every walk of life, at the same time targeting other countries with unfair trade practices such as discounts and under the table commissions.