Your Opinion: Trade discussion raises concerns

Dear Editor:

I read a report about President Obama's recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and I was troubled that Japan's history of trade protectionism wasn't a bigger issue during the discussions.

Prime Minister Noda has made no secret of the fact that Japan would like to be a part of a free trade agreement that is due to be presented in November, and the topic came up during last month's meeting. President Obama stated that he would support Japan's entry into the agreement, but he made no mention of Japan's history of blocking trade with the United States.

Hasty entry into a free trade agreement will do nothing to clear up the problem - to ensure that Japan is truly committed to open markets and free trade, our nation's leaders must take the time to negotiate an end to the numerous anti-trade regulations, tariffs, and many other barriers that keep American products from competing.

Our automotive industry in particular is harmed by Japan's reliance on trade barriers. Less than 1 percent of cars sold in Japan - the third-largest market in the world - are American, while over 95 percent are produced by Japanese companies. In a market like the U.S. where companies are allowed to compete on more equal terms, the numbers are starkly different: 40 percent of cars sold in the U.S. every year are Japanese, and 45 percent are American.

If Japan's trade barriers were eliminated, there is no doubt American companies would sell more cars, allowing the creation of more automotive jobs and the expansion of our nation's manufacturing base.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to guarantee an end to these barriers if we enter a trade agreement without taking the time to do due diligence.