Japan's auto industry has no intention of sharply increasing exports, but the idea that automakers should refrain from exporting more is not acceptable, according to the head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
JAMA Chairman Yoshifumi Tsuji made the comments June 17, as U.S. concerns grow over Japan's trade surplus. The yen's relative weakness against the dollar is believed to be contributing to an increase in Japanese exports -- especially cars.
U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky spoke out last week about Japan's rising trade surplus, and Shinji Sato, minister of international trade and industry, has been calling on Japanese automakers to exercise moderation in exporting their products overseas. Some Japanese government officials also believe that the trade surplus issue may be raised later this week in bilateral talks in the U.S. when the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and Russia meet in Denver.