Ray Payne comments

Those with money for gambling- 2,000 yen is peanuts.

Trump has criticized Japan's trade practices. "We want fair and open trade. But right now, our trade with Japan is not fair and it's not open," he said during a visit to Tokyo last November.

There seems to be misunderstanding by many. Trump is not talking about consumer choice. He is talking about the removal if long standing trade barriers that Japan has in place- many are hidden. Dismantle the trade barriers and then it is simply consumers choice.

Japan has many hidden trade barriers such as most food colors and preservatives used in America are not allowed to be imported into Japan, regardless of the fact millions of Japanese have visited America and have not died by consuming American products. Again, and again, the only thing the U. S. is asking for is truly free trade without cunning trade barriers.

“Intriguing, often mystifying and above all exciting- this is Japan. I came to Japan seventy two years ago and I have seen some changes. I could buy a house lot for eight hundred yen. One yen was big money, after all we had sen and rin.

Hayashida said,

"My biggest fear is how far President Trump will close down trade," the executive said. "If the U.S. takes action (to curb imports), it may trigger retaliation by other countries. What is most troublesome is to see the world heading to protectionism."

Who is Japan to talk about protectionism, when Japan is one of the worst for protectionism.

A buy is a buy from the U. S. and does help off set those huge trade surpluses in Japan's favor caused by protectionism.

America should never rejoin TPP unless hidden trade barriers are dismantled. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and others refuse to do. They like their one sided trade surpluses as in their favor.

One should ask themselves, what is Japan afraid of with a one on one trade agreement with the U. S.

Australia is in TPP, yet also they have a separate, one on one trade, agreement with Japan.

Again, what is Japan afraid of?

Now that we have heard about the elderly minority, let's hear about those that cause the great majority of accidents.

Those that live in glass houses, should not throw stones.

Countries such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with the support of their governments, targeted and destroyed American industries.

To name one- television, with their unfair, disguised trade practices.

At the same time inhibiting American products from entering their countries- with quotas and cleverly hidden trade barriers.

What America is asking for- is truly free trade that is fair to all countries.

Year after year, America's huge trade imbalances in favor of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and others, is difficult to explain to those that have never been involved in trade. To try to answer to wild negative stupid comments- is like talking to the wind.

GoodlucktoyouToday 01:17 pm JST

What a laugh- America's economy is booming. America has a great abundance of excellent beef, processed food and agricultural products. Enough to feed the world. There is nothing that America cannot produce.

One must address the unfair trade barriers that restrict and inhibit American products from entering other countries.

These trade barriers are more detrimental to American exports than the tariffs themselves. Until so called hidden trade barriers are dismantled, there can never be truly free trade.

For those not involved in trade- it is must difficult for them- to understand what free trade and unfair trade is all about.

dcog9065Today 09:00 am JST

"Pence told a news conference on Wednesday that Washington wanted to promote growth based on "free and fair" trade."

"Last month, William Hagerty, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said Washington wanted to see progress on cutting Japan's trade surplus and forging a bilateral framework by spring."

Japan does not want, a one on one, bilateral free and fair trade agreement. Over the years, with unfair trade, Japan has created huge trade surpluses in it's favor- with it's many hidden trade barriers.

All that President Trump and Vice President Pence is asking for is truly free trade that is fair to both countries.

Many that are not involved in trade have a difficult time understanding this. Therefore we have wild comments about trade.

People should ask themselves, when it comes to a truly bilateral free trade agreement, what is Japan afraid of?

The American people have much respect for the intelligence of President Trump and Vice President Pence, that's why they were elected to office by the American people.

Thank you FizzBit.

I own a number of businesses and drive daily to support my businesses employing hundreds of people that depend upon my support. It would be very difficult in business without a car.

Drivers license should be issued based on testing of capability. August 8th I will turn ninety.

A few months ago I tested excellent and received a drivers license for another three years. I am willing to be tested any time for my driving skills.

Now lets hear from families- that can tell us some scare stories- about those idiotic kids that are driving their cars in and out of traffic at high speeds, causing most traffic accidents and killing loved ones.

There must be many stories to tell.

I am surprised to see this news, as usually it is only about American helicopters making emergency landings.

dcog9065Today 09:27 am JST

"There will be no action taken against Japan's massive trade surplus."

What is Japan afraid of by refusing a one on one trade agreement with the U. S. A.- that would offset these surpluses.

Japan has one on one trade agreements with other countries, why not the U. S.?

I would think carefully before peddling in conspiracy theories. It was the U.S. that had it's technology stolen by East Asian countries, not the other way around.

Why is it that television sets are no longer manufactured in America? The U.S. pioneered the television industry with technology. What happened to Emerson, Magnavox, Motorola, RCA, Zenith, and more. The same can be said for other U.S. industries (besides television) that have had their technologies stolen and copied by other countries.

I have personally seen, in Tokyo, a truck full of American JBL speakers, being unloaded and taken up to the top floor of the Pioneer building for R&C.

The U.S. has been a long-time supporter of free trade. President Trump wants our trade agreements renegotiated to be fair to all countries, including the U.S.

While there may be a few cheaper grocery stores here and there, in Japan, on the whole, the Japanese people pay much more for food than most other countries.

Those that have lived outside of Japan know this well. It is common knowledge that Japan is an expensive country to live in compared to most.

This is why wages in Japan must be higher than the average country in East Asia, to accommodate the high prices people have to pay for goods in Japan.

Countries, such as the U S A, have the right to not enter into a so called free trade agreement- if they consider the agreement unfair.

There should be no pressure from outsiders- on the U S to join TPP.

The U S not joining TPP  is of no business of any other country or any non-American citizen.

Pulling out of TPP is a decision made by the duly elected president of The United States of America, for the American people- as an unfair trade agreement.

U S trade agreements with countries, should be one on one- fair and 100% agreeable by both countries.

Instead of countries trying to intimidate other countries to join a trade group, they should concentrate on dismantling trade barriers that they have set inforce to disguise what they call free trade that is not truly free trade.

@katsu78

President Trump has never said that everyone must buy American products. He has only said the trade, when it occurs, must be fair.

America has excellent beef, some of the most plentiful processed food and agricultural products at most reasonable prices.

American agricultural products available for shipment can feed the world. I know what I am talking about as I have been involved in importing agricultural products from the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand to Japan.

Are you aware of the many levels of tariffs on these products? Not only are the products taxed but also the freight and the insurance. There are many restrictions and hidden trade barriers strictly enforced to drive up the cost of the products and make trade on certain items nearly impossible.

@mukashiyokatta

Costco has 26 large wholesale stores full of items from the U.S. in Japan in spite of the high tariffs and trade barriers. The U.S. has many products that are in high demand world-wide and much to offer in regards to trade.

If the high tariffs and trade barriers were removed, the people of Japan would have a better way of life.

Most hard-lines at one time were manufactured in America. American technology for many years has been stolen and copied by East Asian countries.

In America, there is R&D, in East Asian countries over the years, it has been R&C. Having lived in East Asia for 57 years, I've personally seen this with my own eyes.

All President Trump is asking for is free trade, truly free trade, that benefits all concerned. He is not saying all countries must buy American only, he is saying when they do, it must be fair.

An example of current unfairness is the tax on Australian beef coming into Japan which is significantly lower than the tax on American beef coming into Japan. My companies here in Japan, purchase tons of beef from the U.S. and Australia annually and this has been a major concern of mine.

On trade, America can’t be first if it doesn’t compete. Trevor Kincaid

"The U.S. is being left behind only because Trump has chosen not to compete."

This article by Trevor Kincaid is a bunch of misleading BS. Trump does want to compete with a fair playing field.

TPP countries and other countries - their so called free trade - is loaded with trade barriers that is unfair to the US.

Kincaid is using the old adage, "The pen is mightier than the sword." in an attempt to fool people about what is not truly free trade.

A quote from P. T. Barnum, "You can fool some of the people all of the time; you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can never fool all of the people all of the time."

-2( +2 / -4 )

LagunaToday 06:34 pm JST

it’s not a national crisis at all when people illegally in Japan are sent home.

You'll notice Japan is not America. I doubt that America would want to resemble Japan. Yes, there is the rigidity of law. There is also the flexibility of compassion and reality. The latter two Japan lack. Would you make America so?

Japan is a well managed country. I sleep well at night.

Undocumented immigrant is a play on words for illegal alien

Illegal is to be outside the law and it is criminal.

Illegal aliens are criminals that commit the crime of entering the USA illegally.

No play on words should circumvent American law. Illegal is illegal.

Tommy JonesToday 08:00 am JST

"Not shocking at all. It's only on the re-election campaign's website, do not the corruption it seems at first blush. Only the semi-literate Trump supporters will be watching SOTU from that source."

So now I know who I am. One of those semi-illiterates that gave America one of the greatest presidents the country has ever had. Look at the statistics.

katsu78Today 07:35 am JST

"Once a shameless swindler, always a shameless swindler."

Trump is not a swindler, swindlers go to jail. What is your experience?

A teenager receives a Japanese driver's license at the age of 18. To obtain the license, he was a very safe driver and carefully followed all regulations.

Once he has the license, he hits the road thinking that he is the world's greatest driver cutting in and out of traffic at high speeds.

At times, these dangerous maneuvers by these young men, cause a chain reaction of rapid breaking with vehicles rear-ending other vehicles.

He becomes the terror of the highways causing accidents, often running red lights causing the loss of lives.

With today's modern technology, cameras should be placed at all traffic lights. Any car exceeding the speed limit or running a red light, a picture should be automatically taken of the automobile showing the license plate.

The picture should then be automatically transmitted to a central hub and analyzed, if the driver is found to be at fault, a citation is issued to the owner of the vehicle.

This will help to eliminate some of the reckless drivers, although not all on the open highway. Older drivers should be much aware of the recklessness of these daredevil crazy kids.

TPP - Japan can back out anytime down the road that suits their purpose, as the US did.

Japan raised the tariff on US beef to punish Trump for pulling out of TPP - that is not truly free trade. TPP only benefits Japan, not the US.

The US should insist on a one on one, bilateral trade agreement, such as Australia is privileged to have.

Japan has its very own, one on one, trade agreement with Australia.

Australia's beef industry has been buoyed today by news that Japan is likely to announce it will dramatically increase tariffs on US beef imports.

"If imports from a country that doesn't have an economic partnership agreement rise more than 17 per cent from the year earlier, it will trigger the increase in tariffs from 38.5 per cent to 50 per cent and that's only on US frozen beef imports into Japan," he said.

Happily for Australia, it does have an economic partnership with Japan — a free trade agreement signed in 2015.

Under the trade agreement, Australian frozen beef attracts a tariff of 27.2 per cent, around half that imposed on US imports under the snapback measure.

Snapback could be good news for Australian industry

Japan's so-called safeguard trigger had not been used in more than a decade against the US and it could have massive implications for Australia.

Analyst Simon Quilty said it would make Australian beef far more attractive to the Japanese consumer.

"Just to try to put it in perspective, what it would mean if a frozen rib eye was to go into that market, it relates back to a price for the Japanese of about a $2.50 difference as a direct result of the difference in tariff," he said.

TPP is not free trade as it stands - there can be no free trade until all hidden trade barriers are removed.

Japan, has no plan to renegotiate TPP for a fair trade agreement, as the agreement, as always, is in Japan's favor.

A bilateral, one on one trade agreement with Japan, is the only way to negotiate with Japan for a fair trade agreement.

At this time Japan has many trade barriers that inhibit, restrict and drive up the cost of US goods entering the country. Among them are processed food and agricultural products.

Again, as I have said many times in the past - all that Trump wants is a trade agreement that is fair to both parties. As it is written, TPP is not fair trade for the USA.

President Trump will do what is fair for the US and others.