Rebirth 79: I opened a bank in the United States

Chapter 350 Self-Limiting Agreement

"Hello? Mr. Toyoda? I'm Carter."

"I want to ask if Toyota has a van model now? It's a small urban transport tool! I need some here."

Thinking of distribution demand, Carter naturally thought of Toyota!
It's just embarrassing that in Carter's memory, Toyota's van seems to only have the premium king Alpha.This car is really not suitable as a tool for transporting sheets, and Carter doesn't know about other models.

So, he called Akio Toyoda.

"Yes, the Hiace H50 should be able to meet your needs. But how about Mitsubishi's L300 or Nissan's Banning and Jiaben? These cars should be the bread-type cars you call. In short-distance cities In transportation, the effects are similar!"

Akio Toyoda's reply came quickly, but there seemed to be a very reluctant taste in the words.

"How about I introduce people from Nissan, or people from Mitsubishi and Isuzu? Their vans are also good."

"Wait, I have a question! Mr. Toyota, since you have a model that meets my needs, why do you push the order out? Is it because you don't like my order, or is it a question of cost performance?"

After a wave of doubt, Carter suddenly remembered that he didn't seem to say the order quantity yet.So hastily added:

"By the way, I should only need 5 cars, for the time being. This is the first order, and there may be additional ones in the future. I plan to build a chain hotel brand, and I need to use these cars to transport dirty sheets in the hotel. If this business It has developed well, and there should be more additions. Don't look down on it just because there are few orders!"

"How come?! I'm not that kind of person! As long as five cars"

For some reason, Carter heard a hint of relief in Toyoda's tone, even joy!

"If you only need five cars, that's fine! I'll call my dad later to discuss it. With our relationship, it's only right to squeeze out the five cars for you."

"Five cars still need to be squeezed? Is the market for this car very hot?"

At this point in the call, Carter realized that he couldn't understand the situation more and more.

"It's not this, it's... Do you know why I'm so aggressive in pushing Toyota to build a plant in the U.S.?"

"Tariff barriers? I think you said it before"

"Yeah, it's not right!"

Right or wrong?

Carter rubbed his chin, and subconsciously wanted to call Goodman to come over and ask if the Washington guy had any new policies.But when his eyes turned to the door.
Fortunately, even without Goodman, Akio Toyoda quickly responded:

"That's right, because what I was worried about at the beginning was tariff barriers! Over the past few years, the share of our Japanese cars in the US market has been increasing, and the attitude of President Carter has been vacillating. Last January, the US Embassy in Japan The ambassador pointed to the escalating U.S.-Japan auto trade conflict in a meeting with the news media."

"Using the words of Ambassador Mansfield, if this trade issue is not restricted, it will definitely become a serious political issue. At that time, Mr. Ambassador proposed that our two major companies, Toyota and Nissan, should follow the example of Honda's Ohio plant. Invest in factories to address the high unemployment rate among American auto workers."

"Then in February, Mr. Fraser, the chairman of the American Auto Workers Union, also went to Japan. He threatened us at that time. They can only be forced to support trade protectionist policies.”

Tsk tsk tsk. Auto union, these words are domineering!
Although it sounds like an industry trade union organization dares to threaten another country, it is somewhat beyond common sense.But when Carter thought about it, he realized that they really seemed to be able to do it!
In addition to the influence among hundreds of thousands, or even millions of auto workers, combined with President Carter's indecisive attitude at the time, once the auto union is behind, maybe.
"So you are worried that if you don't come to the United States to invest and build factories, the U.S. government will raise tariffs on Japanese car imports, which will make you lose market competitiveness. I understand this, but why are you wrong? Isn’t it a tariff issue? I remember the last time you called to inform me that the Georgia factory plan was approved, it seemed to be tariffs.”

"Because of the increase in tariffs, your conservative grandfather Ying Er made up his mind to build a factory in the United States. I remember you told me that at the time."

"Oh, forget it. That's all I've said, and I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. This should be a family scandal! It's a disgrace to Japan! Especially those traitors from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, those insiders ghost!"

"On May 4 this year, the Minister of International Trade and Industry officially issued a statement on the restrictions on the export of cars to the United States. The first period of this restriction is three years, starting from April this year and ending in March 84. We in Japan The number of cars exported to the United States must not exceed 3 million units!"

"Every company has been assigned a quota, and our Toyota only has 516659 units."

In the numbers with odd parts and whole numbers, it is full of Akio Toyoda's anger.Still, whoever is restricted by the rules will feel uncomfortable psychologically!
Carter understands this well.

Obviously my technology is more advanced, the quality of the car is better, and the sales are better!In the end, it was restricted by laws and regulations, and you were not allowed to sell it!

"I know that Japanese cars have an impact on the American auto industry and market! From the perspective of the U.S. government, it is their duty to protect their own country's auto industry and industrial workers! Whether it is raising tariffs or restricting I can understand the quantity of imports!"

"cocoa."

"However, it's your own people who restrict your steps here!"

Carter shook his head and sighed.
"That's right! It's not the U.S. government, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Customs that tie our hands and feet! It's our own MITI! What haven't you done in the U.S.? Even Mr. Reagan, who is said to be a free trade Supporters of the doctrine. In this case, they are better off, they first issued a restriction agreement in a hurry, and forcibly stuck us to death."

"It's hard for me to say this, but I think so. Even if there is no self-restriction agreement, the United States will raise tariffs. Whether it is free trade or conservatism, how can voters' stomachs matter? What do you think?"

As a guy whose political outlook is that of the masses, and who has been swaying near the passing line in every political exam, Carter has always held a contemptuous attitude towards the so-called ideas and doctrines.

Any idea is to serve to solve practical problems!He does not deny that there will be some politicians who, perhaps because they are stupid in reading, will really implement their ideas to the point of disregarding the facts and objective conditions. Maybe they are called academics?

But Carter felt that, for most politicians:

An idea that solves a problem is a good idea!If you can't solve the problem, if you can't solve the contradiction, the idea you once insisted on will be worthless!
According to Reagan's evaluation in history, Carter didn't think this would be an idealistic academic.
(End of this chapter)