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 ...
Exactly - Trump quipped about some methods that may as well be the “bowling ball test” and it flew right over many folks heads.
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.
I guess its why you won’t see a Tahoe or equivalent in Japan.
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.
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.
Notoriety is kinda his thing.
So he's counting on people helping him tick off Canada and Japan? Because?
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.
Ford has plants in Cologne and in Spain. GM owned Opel and Vauxhall until just recently.
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.
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.
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.
“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!
And this makes him look better than media distortions?
“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.
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”.
Japanese cars don’t do well with the ‘bowling ball test’. Even at 6 feet I now have to replace my hood.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.