Ford urges U.S. pressure on Japan

[Nikked]

Ford urges U.S. pressure on Japan ahead of meeting

AutoNews


Ford Motor Co. pushed for President Barack Obama to pressure Japan's prime minister to open its auto market and refrain from weakening the yen to give its companies an advantage.

Less than 4 percent of auto sales in Japan last year were brands from companies based outside the country, Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas, said today at an Ohio engine plant.

Ford also is concerned about the yen, which has weakened about 8 percent against the dollar since Dec. 26, when Shinzo Abe became prime minister.

"We hope the U.S. government will send a clear message that any future trade policy with Japan must ensure a level playing field and not come at the expense of American workers," Hinrichs told workers at the factory. Ford plans to invest about $200 million and add 450 new jobs there by late 2014.

Interesting, Japan could be a potential export market for Australia, so if Ford gets their way, it could benifit us here. To bad the Australian government won't put the same pressure on the Thailand government...