Then how as the how has the domestic truck market been so successful over decades in the US with the 25% duty, known as the chicken tax, in effect? Believe this might be a good example that it does and it can work.

Least for this segment it has forced many foreign manufacturers to invest capital into US facilities and jobs. Not all trucks are produced here, but the vast majority with anything resembling real volume are produced here. Manufacturers domestic and foreign alike have profited from trucks in the US. How is this bad again?

 

hes still got the Caddy..

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MN1T13S7J5.DTL

 

Is theirs getting better or worse than ours??

 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they were doing the same with their auto industry! Not to mention they've gotten help from their government!

 

so no one has really answered this question

what cars does GM produce that would just absolutely take off in japan provided their tax on imports was suddenly done away with?

 

I am guessing since thereis nothing to guage it..

but I would think the halo/performance cars would be the ones they would go for at first..Camaro,Mustang, Challenger, Charger, Corvette.

Would Japan buy a Cobalt or a Focus or a HHR?

Or a Malibu? Or Fusion?

The other problem is..right hand drive..not to much to pick from for us to import..So it would have to be nitch cars at first..or Holdens and Ford Australias efforts??

 

I don't have any current info, but one odd fact does pop up in my mind...

The Chevy Astro van was extremely popular in Japan. As far as LHD, high-priced-due-to-taxes, cars go in a RHD, low-priced market.

The Japanese are every bit as funky and strange as we think they are. They will go for anything that looks different. I'd bet the HHR would be a hit. As well as other select models from the different GM brands.

 

I totally agree with PacerX.

Now, how many elected officials that vote for the tariffs will the American consumer re-elect next time around?

 

I bet all of them will get re-elected from michigan, ohio, south carolina, mississippi, alabama, and whatever other states have multiple car factories in them.

Mainly michigan and ohio though.

 

Japan is worse. Since 02 it has significantly lagged the USA in GDP average (1.62% vs 2.47%). Not to mention Japans glorious 90's with almost no movement.

Korea is better, in terms of GDP, but they again are not a comparable equal to our economy.


The USA's strength did not come from manufacturing. It began with that and grew due to consistant and sustainable growth. Thats the key, our ability to maintain economic growth. Growth is handicaped with government intervention in the market place, ie tariffs. They just do not work in the real world.