Chinese (Simplified) 
Chinese (Traditional) 
English 
French 
Alemão 
Italian 
Japanese 
Norwegian 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
Trump criticizes Japan's technical barriers and demands more space for US vehicles in the Japanese market
Although Toyota is one of the best-selling cars in the United States, American cars are very rare on the streets of Japan. For Donald Trump, the blame lies with technical barriers and the lack of commercial reciprocity. Experts, however, point to deeper reasons, such as culture, urban space and consumer preferences.
Toyota at the center of a trade dispute between the US and Japan
Toyota, the Japanese giant that has been the top car seller in the United States for years, has become the centerpiece of yet another criticism of Japan by former US President Donald Trump. According to a report by NDTV, Trump is questioning the fact that brands such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan dominate the US market, while American-made cars are virtually non-existent on Japanese roads.
According to Trump, this would be the result of non-tariff technical barriers, such as absurd requirements in safety tests, including the controversial “bowling ball test,” which according to him prevents the homologation of American vehicles in Japan. In response, the Japanese government denies the existence of this test and claims that all requirements follow international standards aimed at pedestrian protection, as it has previously explained to Bloomberg.
-
Couple throws magnet into New York lake and finds heavy antique safe full of money
-
The largest Brazilian city that suffocates with toxic air because millions of cars and trucks dominate its streets daily
-
The Brazilian city that could be the next Mariana because it has dangerous dams and faults
-
These are the largest cities in the Sertão Pernambucano
Buy
Japanese market favors compacts and values reliability
The lack of American cars in Japan, however, goes beyond bureaucratic barriers. The Japanese market has particularities that make it difficult for foreign models, especially those from the United States, to penetrate. Narrow streets, compact parking lots and a culture of high reliability explain why brands like Toyota stand out among Japanese consumers.
According to NDTV, even European brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, considered luxury brands, manage to sell thousands of units per year in Japan, while American automakers face logistical, distribution and adaptation difficulties to local tastes. The problem, therefore, seems to be more linked to the automakers' strategy and consumer culture than to explicit Japanese protectionism.
Toyota is a symbol of success in the US and a target of tariffs
In response to criticism and to pressure Japan, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imported vehicles. The measure directly affected companies such as Toyota, which is now the second largest automaker in sales in the United States, behind only Toyota. General Motors. With factories installed on American soil, Toyota seeks to mitigate the effects of tariffs and maintain its strong presence in the country.
Despite this, the trade dispute highlights the difference in treatment between the two automotive powerhouses. While Americans buy millions of Toyota cars a year, the Japanese rarely opt for a Ford, Chevrolet or Chrysler model. BBC News has already highlighted that, in addition to the technical issues, there is also a cultural and psychological factor: many Japanese consider American cars “too big” or even “out of touch” with the local urban reality.
