White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters that President Trump was “obviously joking” when he said Japan excludes U.S. autos from its market by dropping bowling balls on them to see if the hoods dent.
“Obviously, he’s joking about this particular test, but it illustrates the creative ways some countries are able to keep American goods out of their markets,” Sanders said.
Trump was quoted in the Washington Post as saying Japan subjects imports to a “bowling ball test.”
“They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car,” Trump said. “If the hood dents, the car doesn’t qualify. It’s horrible.”
While Trump was joking about that test, Japan is a notoriously closed market for U.S. cars.
Reports from last year said major auto makers like GM sell just a few hundred cars in Japan each year, while major Japanese companies are able to sell hundreds of thousands of cars each year in the U.S.
Sanders said Trump was making a lighthearted reference to that imbalance, and said he would keep fighting for a more equal playing field on trade.
“The president’s been talking about unfair trade practices for decades, it’s not new for him,” Sanders said. “Part of the reason he was elected was to end unfair trade practices and push for free, fair, and reciprocal trade so American goods can compete in more foreign markets.”
