Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version nyu B notes v1.5 12/10/84; site acf4.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!acf4!mms1646
From: mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: War With Japan
Message-ID: <1340009@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Apr-85 00:07:00 EST
Article-I.D.: acf4.1340009
Posted: Wed Apr 10 00:07:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Apr-85 06:10:14 EST
References: <489@scc.UUCP>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 31

/* san@peora.UUCP (Sanjay Tikku) /  9:41 am  Apr  8, 1985 */
>
>	It is not as simple as you put it. The problem of US trade deficit
>is multifold. It is partly due to high value of dollar(making American goods
>expensive), partly due to questionable product quality( making consumers
>prefer Japanese etc products) and partly due to Japanese trade barriers.
>
>	If you think that Japanese are dealing a straight hand and only their
>product quality and managerial qualities earn them their trade surplus, then
>it is you who is naive. I suggest you do some more research into US-Japanese
>trade and I am sure that you will realize that what legislators are now
>pushing for is long overdue.
>
>	Sanjay

It may well be that the problem is caused (at least in part) by Japanese
trade barriers, but there is no way that can justify protectionism.  By
erecting our own trade restrictions we not only hurt Japan, but we hurt
Amereican consumers.  Advocating such measures is tantamount to saying
that the producers of particular goods are more important than the public at
large.  Furthermore, no one can be guaranteed the right to make a particular
product at a specified price, only the right to compete; the alternative
system would be ridiculously unfair and inefficient.

If the Japanese trade barriers are not new (which I don't believe they are),
then the purveyors of these goods knew about them for some time, and had
time to adjust accordingly, i.e., to diversify.  Furthermore, the fact that
they haven't been clamoring about these trade barriers until now suggests
that they are not the root cause of decreased exports.

						Michael Sykora