From: irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine)
Subject: Re: DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 04:19:28 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.205108.6801@oakhill.sps.mot.com> rvkl60@aus18a25.sps.mot.com (Tom Mathes) writes:
>In article <1992Dec16.014403.2407@cirrus.com> dhesi@cirrus.com (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
>>In <1992Dec15.214210.19181@oakhill.sps.mot.com>
>>rvkl60@aus18a25.sps.mot.com (Tom Mathes) writes:
>>
>>>Let's get this discussion back on the REAL message of the
>>>original post: the Japanese coordinated attack on industry
>>                   ^alleged
>>>in the US, and the mercantilistic trading practices of Japan.
>>
>>Do you know when the US will get back on track?  When it stops blaming
>>Japan.
>
>We will get back on track when we upgrade our educational system,
>invest for the long term, and retaliate with a vengence against
>unfair trading practices.  I hope under Clinton we will not see
>the wholesale destruction of US industries by foreign concerns,
>like the Japanese cartel of TV makers did to the US TV makers.
>
>We should not be patsies on trade issues anymore.  Bush set
>a good precident in retaliating against European subsides in 
>seed oil.  Too bad he didn't use the same tactics to open the
>Japanese market.

Both Bush and Reagan were approached by chip makers concerned about dumping
of memories in the US, as well as overwhealming evidence of deliberate
policy set by Hitachi, Toshiba and others to drive Intel, Motorola
and other US firms out of the market.

Retaliation? None, both Reagan and Bush said they didn't care if we
made computer chips or potato chips.  Their policy was of noninterference,
and resulted in the near death of chip industries here in the US.
[Kind of like if barbarians invaded and sacked Rome, took all the
gold, and then the Emporer was asked what he planned to do about it.
"Nothing," he said "we dont care if we have gold or stone in our coffers"]

>Japan owes the US alot too.  Giving them military protection for
>over 40 years ain't cheap.  Not to mention, the technology we
>transfered to them for a song (like VCRs, TVs, automobile mass
>production, flat panel displays, etc.)

In addition to allowing them unlimited US market access in return for
NOTHING AT ALL.  That policy may have worked in the cold war, but
it is not a sustainable economic policy.

>You say that consumers are better off, but there are lots of people
>with former good jobs out of work.  If the US had the same trade 
>policies as Japan, then you wouldn't see any Japanese TVs, VCRs, 
>autos, etc. that you see now.  Free trade is great, when both sides
>play by the same rules.
>
>Why don't Japanese consumers buy American products?  Often, they
>don't have a chance.  Excessive regulation blocking foreign goods,
>encouraged by domestic companies, locks them out.  Just ask Cray
>Research why they have trouble selling computers to the government
>there.  Or why US semiconductor makers, who are successful abroad,
>have a fit selling in Japan.

Foreign goods have to go through 'special processing' ion the ports,
the upshot being that a non-tariff tariff of 36% is slapped on the
cost to bring the prices to be about 8-10% higher than native products.

>Saying it's all America's fault is like blaming the victim
>for the crime.  We should stop whining in the US and just
>act when we are right.  For starters, no more US defense of
>any country as wealthy as Japan or western European countries.
>Time they paid with their own money and lives to defend their
>soil and interests.  Also, short warning for unfair trade, then

There are a few other nations that have equally unfair trade
[like South Korea whose tariffs are so high on imported cars
that a base Taurus costs US$30,000!]
Perhaps a few "examples" need to be made to let the larger 
partners know that we aren't going to pussyfoot around anymore...

>stiff retaliation.  I think the old Teddy Roosevelt addage of
>"speak softly and carry a big stick" should be followed by 
>Americans again.

Hear hear!

-- 
+-------------------------+--------------------------------+-----------------+
| Brent L. Irvine         | For a mere $50 these personal  | I will be gone: |
| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | opinions can also be yours!    | 20 Dec - 4 Jan  |
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Xref: sparky soc.culture.japan:12473 misc.education:5336