FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@americanautocouncil.org
September 26, 2018
AAPC Statement on Japan Free Trade Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gov. Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s initiative to potentially establish a free trade agreement with Japan:
"We are closely following the Administration’s efforts to reset our trading relationship with Japan. While Japan exported 1.7 million vehicles, worth $40 billion, to the United States last year, it has not reciprocated with similar openness to U.S. auto imports. Automotive trade is the biggest contributor to the decades-long U.S. trade deficit with Japan – totaling $51 billion in 2017.
“Any potential trade agreement with Japan should lead to truly reciprocal market access for U.S. automakers. It must address long-standing non-tariff barriers in Japan, and include strong and enforceable provisions that prevent Japan from manipulating its currency. The trade playing field between the U.S. and Japan must be leveled.”
The American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) is a Washington, D.C. association that represents the common public policy interests of its member companies FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company.
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