Japan, U.S. At Odds Over Trade Agreement

Japan and the United States may have declared a cease-fire in their battle on auto trade, but already skirmishes are breaking out over what the agreement means.

Just as high officials from both sides were meeting in Washington to put their signatures on the final document, Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry released a 15-page document in Tokyo late Wednesday that rebutted claims made last week by the U.S. side.

Japan was angered by the release Aug. 15 of a document by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that outlined what the agreement means, prior to its formal signing Wednesday.

“The goals (for increased parts purchases and dealerships) stated in the U.S. document are based on one-sided understanding,” the trade ministry document said.