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Trump’s ‘joke’ about Japanese car inspections dropping bowling balls leaves Tokyo perplexed
japantimes.co.jp ^ | March 16, 2018 | Shusuke Murai

Posted on 03/17/2018 12:22:44 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

A remark made by U.S. President Donald Trump, that Japan drops bowling balls on U.S. cars during inspection to shut them out of the market, later described as a joke by the White House, has left Tokyo perplexed.

During a fundraising speech in Missouri on Wednesday that was transcribed by The Washington Post on Thursday, Trump criticized Japan for conducting unfair inspections on U.S. cars to keep them out of the Japanese market.

“It’s called the bowling ball test, do you know what that is? That’s where they take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and they drop it on the hood of the car. And if the hood dents, then the car doesn’t qualify. Well, guess what, the roof dented a little bit, and they said, nope, this car doesn’t qualify. It’s horrible, the way we’re treated. It’s horrible,” he reportedly said.

In Tokyo on Friday, a Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry official in charge of vehicle inspections said the president’s remarks were based on “a mere misunderstanding,” saying Japan has never conducted such tests.

(Excerpt) Read more at japantimes.co.jp ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Japan
KEYWORDS: japan; literally; tradedeficits
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To: LibWhacker

Exactly - Trump quipped about some methods that may as well be the “bowling ball test” and it flew right over many folks heads.


21 posted on 03/17/2018 4:45:20 AM PDT by trebb (I stopped picking on the mentally ill hypocrites who pose as conservatives...mostly ;-})
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To: jonrick46

The media likes to misreport the words of this president.

They tried claiming the Trump was serious about congratulating China on dictatorship and considering its application in America.

Not on journalist shed a tear for the billion Chinese living in a dictatorship.


22 posted on 03/17/2018 4:48:57 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Wear an orange pin to mourn thvictims of the Tide Pods Challenge.)
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To: ltc8k6

I guess its why you won’t see a Tahoe or equivalent in Japan.


23 posted on 03/17/2018 4:52:29 AM PDT by anton
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I was in Japan in 1989 and only saw 1 US car which was in a car lot. It was a Chevy Impala. The price was around $28000 US. Here the same car went for less than $16000.
That’s why we can’t sell cars there.


24 posted on 03/17/2018 5:01:20 AM PDT by hans56 (I'm not tired of winning yet)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Trump’s got to remember that no matter where he is, no matter what group he is with, someone is going to be taping him.


25 posted on 03/17/2018 5:01:31 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg
He knows - he's counting on it.

Notoriety is kinda his thing.

26 posted on 03/17/2018 5:23:08 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (Truth comes in few words; lies require more.)
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To: Aevery_Freeman
He knows - he's counting on it.

So he's counting on people helping him tick off Canada and Japan? Because?

27 posted on 03/17/2018 5:24:14 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Joe Boucher

Countries like Japan, Korea, Germany etc sell their vehicles here with NO penalties.”

America does not manufacture autos in these countries.

My last four Hondas were manufactured in the US of A by American labor.


28 posted on 03/17/2018 5:34:57 AM PDT by BBB333 (The Power Of Trump Compels You!)
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To: BBB333

Ford has plants in Cologne and in Spain. GM owned Opel and Vauxhall until just recently.


29 posted on 03/17/2018 6:46:32 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: kaktuskid

Yes, I know.

Japan, Germany and Korea were in the post I replied to.

Additionally, I do not believe there is a tariff on autos made in the EU - just the VAT.

Have a great weekend, FRiend.


30 posted on 03/17/2018 6:49:23 AM PDT by BBB333 (The Power Of Trump Compels You!)
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To: Joe Boucher

There have been many articles written on the crazy restrictions placed on US cars in Japan. Even the ones like the foreign version of the Ford Focus, made for the small streets of the EU. One that I’ve heard is that they won’t let cars be purchased that don’t have a dealership system to support the consumer when the car needs service or repair. Then they don’t permit dealerships unless there are X number of cars sold. Catch 22.


31 posted on 03/17/2018 7:16:16 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I think Trump was referring to videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBBlw3z8hsg The “bowling ball” shows up at the 36 second mark.


32 posted on 03/17/2018 7:37:52 AM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: DoodleDawg

“Trump’s got to remember that no matter where he is, no matter what group he is with, someone is going to be taping him.”

Which is why he doesn’t give a rats ass about what you think! They will always distort what he says no matter what he says. So, why cower to your enemies?

You might want another limp-wristed spineless-jellyfish of a RINO president, we don’t!


33 posted on 03/17/2018 8:03:39 AM PDT by CodeToad (Dr. Spock was an idiot!.)
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To: CodeToad
Which is why he doesn’t give a rats ass about what you think! They will always distort what he says no matter what he says. So, why cower to your enemies?

And this makes him look better than media distortions?

34 posted on 03/17/2018 8:35:10 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

“And this makes him look better than media distortions? “

To us, yes.

To you and your fellow liberals, nothing would work with you. You’re hypocrites. Obama/Hitlery can do no wrong with you and Trump can do no right, so why try to please you lying idiots? Yes, lying. You lie when you say something matters but you never hold you own accountable in the same manner.


35 posted on 03/17/2018 8:47:38 AM PDT by CodeToad (Dr. Spock was an idiot!.)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Dave Barry made the bowling ball test joke in a column he wrote about trying to sell a house. Not allowing the test meant that you had “something to hide”.


36 posted on 03/17/2018 8:50:36 AM PDT by sportutegrl
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Japanese cars don’t do well with the ‘bowling ball test’. Even at 6 feet I now have to replace my hood.


37 posted on 03/17/2018 9:34:24 AM PDT by BobL (I shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's...I just don't tell anyone)
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To: wastedyears
I think most serious people knew that Trump was making a metaphorical joke. I spent 14 years working in Japan and saw importing from the other side handling everything from hair curlers (few restrictions, but had to be repackaged in sizes suitable for the local market) to machinery (had to meet the same standard tests which domestically produced machinery had to meet to be sold). Let's just say that we (the USA) are much more tolerant on what we allow on the market than are the Japanese.

We also had an issue with a well-known wine company who didn't want to produce bottles with the same color shades of bottles sold in Japan. The reason for that restriction is because their recycling industry is geared for only certain color separations to ensure conformity. The Europeans have no trouble meeting such restriction because they are geared to producing smaller runs of special orders. They see Japan as just one more unique market (among many) with special needs. Our wine industry, OTOH, sees this as an unreasonable restriction met to keep them out of the market because they want to sell production surplus as it is as if Japan was merely an extension of, say, Canada or Mexico where there are no such restrictions on wine bottle colors.

Variations of the wine bottle model are prevalent in many other industries.

Long story short is that Japan isn't particularly unfair to the United States and, in fact, favors American imports in many, many cases. Further, once things like royalties, license fees, tourism, services, etc. are included and not just physical trade goods, there is almost no trade deficit between our two nations.

38 posted on 03/18/2018 6:19:06 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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