U.S. Auto Parts Industry Supports Administration's 'Get Tough' Trade Negotiations with Japan
10 October 1997
U.S. Auto Parts Industry Supports Administration's 'Get Tough' Trade Negotiations with JapanBETHESDA, Md. Oct. 10 -- Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) President Alfred L. Gaspar today congratulated U.S. negotiators for standing firm this week in demanding Japanese brake market deregulation and other measures to open Japan's $30 billion aftermarket. Several high-ranking U.S. and Japanese government representatives held an annual consultation in San Francisco to review the implementation and results of the 1995 auto parts and auto trade agreement. "Our industry has demonstrated around the globe that whenever barriers come down, and competitive U.S. firms can get to consumers with great quality and price, we win sales," said Gaspar. "APAA worked closely with U.S. trade officials to set objectives and secure an agreement unlike past parts trade deals that were long on rhetoric, but short on results. We intended the 1995 agreement to be a results-oriented pact, one by which we could measure implementation and quantify the expected marketplace results." Gaspar praised negotiation leaders, Commerce Assistant Secretary Marge Searing and U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, stating: "Their proposals are a blueprint for concrete market opening steps that could spur sales progress for American firms fully ready for open market competition." APAA has consistently commended U.S. leaders for supporting the American aftermarket's petition to remove brakes from the "critical parts" list. Certified garages, that can both make and inspect the critical parts repairs, have a lock on Japan's $500 million brake market. These shops, and the Japanese automakers' suppliers who source 80 percent of their parts, together gouge exorbitant profits from Japanese consumers. Removal of items from the critical parts list allows independent service providers to make those repairs, and opens a new potential market for competitively priced, high quality American suppliers. Cutler said that since shocks and struts came off the critical parts list in 1995, U.S. exports to Japan have tripled. "Backed by APAA, the American negotiators kept the pressure on this week, by asking for brake deregulation and other concrete actions by a 'date certain,'" noted Gaspar. He added that, "Assistant USTR Cutler made the most compelling argument by stating that Japan's recent plan to allow the tiny Japanese do it yourself market to perform all critical parts repairs without inspection 'supports our contention that there is no need for the critical part list.'" SOURCE Automotive Parts and Accessories Association