[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           URGING JAPAN TO OPEN MARKETS TO AUTO PARTS IMPORTS

  (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, the United States Trade Representative has 
just announced tariffs, 100-percent tariffs on 13 luxury automobiles 
made in Japan. One of them is the Infinity Q45. This chart shows what 
our problem is. That car sells for $85,000 in Japan, $54,000 in the 
United States. It is the same car. They have to ship it here, insure it 
in its shipping. How does that happen?
  Mr. Speaker, the reason is the Japanese shelter, they protect their 
home market. They do not let competition in, so they can charge their 
consumers anything they want, and then sell the care lower in the 
United States, taking the profits in Japan to try to get market share 
in the United States. They are keeping auto parts out made in the 
United States that sell for one-third or one-fourth. We say to Japan 
``Open your markets. That is the issue. Open your markets. Compete. The 
United States is ready to compete. Won't you let us? It is about 
time.''


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