"EV Obsession and Invisible Barriers" — The U.S.-Japan Talks Gone Awry and the Overlooked Truth
Chapter 1: Why Don’t American Cars Sell in Japan? — Shifting Blame to “Non-Tariff Barriers”
You know, my wife sighed watching TV the other day and said, “America’s so pushy, telling us to buy their cars.” Then, not two minutes later, she saw a Mustang on screen and went, “But it is kinda cool.” … So which is it?
Ever since the Trump years, the U.S. has been fixated on selling American cars in Japan. On paper, they blame so-called “non-tariff barriers.” But let’s be real—it’s simply that Japanese consumers aren’t interested.
Think about it: narrow roads, tight parking, a culture that prizes fuel efficiency and reliability. There’s just no room—literally or figuratively—for bulky American vehicles. So blaming Japan for poor sales? That’s a bit rich, don’t you think?
Chapter 2: Reverse Imports and What’s Really Bothering the U.S.
Then came Japan’s proposed solution, which was... well, peculiar. Importing U.S.-made Japanese cars back into Japan to “balance the numbers.” Sounds more like a magic trick with trade data than a real fix.
But the truth is, America’s deeper concern isn’t the numbers. It’s that the critical parts for EVs—batteries, motors—are increasingly controlled by China. That’s the real threat.
They’ve seen what dependence looks like in semiconductors. They don’t want to repeat that nightmare in the auto industry. Japan’s superficial fixes won’t cut it when Washington’s operating from real urgency.
Chapter 3: The EV Rush and the Quiet Rise of China
Tokyo says, “All new cars must be EVs by 2030!”—bold, to say the least. But even my wife asked, “With electricity prices like this, how is that eco-friendly?”
Japan’s caught in a trance of SDGs and carbon neutrality, rushing into EVs like it’s a race. But the guts of those EVs—batteries and motors—are largely made in China.
BYD, for example, is on a tear: vertically integrated from resources to manufacturing, pushing out high-quality EVs at unbeatable prices. At this rate, Japan's entire auto industry could be swallowed whole.
And yet our politicians and bureaucrats? Either blind to it or playing dumb. That’s not “eco”—that’s pure “ego.”
Chapter 4: What the U.S. Really Wants — Breaking Free from China
The U.S. isn’t really saying, “Let us sell you our cars.” What they want is for Japan to help break free from China’s stranglehold on the EV supply chain.
They already have cutting-edge battery plants like Tesla’s, and top-tier motor tech. If Japanese automakers strategically collaborate, the U.S. and Japan could reshape the global industry together.
A good deal isn’t just about numbers—it’s about shared vision. Real negotiation means reading the other side’s true needs and responding accordingly. But from the current Japanese administration? I see none of that grit.
Chapter 5: The Ishiba Administration’s Soft Touch — A Strategic Misstep
Frankly, the Ishiba government seems out of its depth in these U.S. talks. America is deadly serious about “de-Chinafying” its industry. And Japan’s reply? Balancing spreadsheets and selling idealism.
Naturally, Washington’s industry leaders are growing frustrated. “Japan just doesn’t get it,” they say.
Foreign policy isn’t just about economy or ideals—it’s the whole package. If Japan keeps blindly pushing EVs just because they’re “green” or “on-trend,” we’ll end up handing both markets and tech to China.
Let me say this again: the future of Japan depends not just on where we get our electricity—but from whom we get our parts.
Mr. Ishiba, please... negotiate like our lives and wallets depend on it—because they do.