U.S. To Proceed With Auto Tariffs Plan

The Clinton administration is welcoming the resumption of U.S.-Japanese auto talks but warns that unless there is progress, it will impose huge tariffs on $5.9 billion in Japanese luxury cars.

“Our position is quite clear to our Japanese counterparts,” U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor told reporters. “Without a meaningful, concrete agreement, trade sanctions would be imposed.

“We have to be realistic. We obviously welcome this. It’s helpful. But we have to proceed on the same track we have been,” Kantor said. “The talks will be convened without preconditions or limitation and will cover the full range of substantive U.S. concerns.”

Japanese Trade Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto had earlier announced the new round of talks after meeting in Tokyo with U.S. Ambassador Walter Mondale.

The bargaining at the vice-ministerial level will be held June 22-23 in Geneva, together with the next round of discussions taking place at the World Trade Organization.