Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), North Carolina’s only member of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Trade and a member of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, applauded the decision by the Japanese government to fully open up their “Cash for Clunkers” program to U.S. automobiles.
“International trade is good for America, but there has to be a level playing field,” said Etheridge. “American goods are the envy of the world and now Japanese consumers will have the opportunity to purchase them. Open markets and competition in the automobile marketplace are necessary to get our economy back on track and keep it on track.”
As the new year began, Etheridge signed on to a letter to Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki urging Japan to remove barriers to imports of U.S. automobiles in Japan’s vehicle scrappage program. In 2009 the House, Senate and the President enacted the U.S. “Cash for Clunkers” program, which was successful, in part, because consumers could buy any new car regardless of where it was made. Until today’s announcement, Japan’s scrappage program excluded many U.S. automobiles.
In a release from the Japanese Embassy, the country announced that its subsidy format for environmental friendly vehicles, or “eco-cars”, would continue in order to protect the Japanese environment and stimulate its economy. Further, the embassy also stated that in order to increase the number of imported vehicles which qualify for the Japanese program, vehicles imported under the Preferential Handling Procedures (PHP) will now be fully covered by this program as well. This provision removes the barrier which limited trade-ins for American vehicles under the Japanese “Cash for Clunkers” program.
“These exclusionary tactics never should have occurred,” said Etheridge. “Foreign markets must remain open to U.S. goods and services as we move from worldwide recession back to global prosperity and innovation. I will continue to work as a member of the trade subcommittee to keep foreign markets open to U.S. products and protect American jobs.”
The letter was spearheaded by the New Democrat Coalition. Rep. Bob Etheridge is a charter member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats who promote fiscally sound business environments and who support pro-growth legislation. The New Democrat Coalition the largest moderate coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives and was founded in 1997.