Trump's gripe over car 'bowling-ball test' dents Japan's trade hopes

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

50% : The US has its own proprietary car safety testing regime that diverges from UN standards.
49% : But Japan might have ground to cede on other non-tariff barriers for imported vehicles, including subsidies that favour local producers such as Toyota and Japan's unique fast-charging standards for electric vehicles, according to auto executives.
40% : Trump has threatened its export-oriented economy with 24 per cent "reciprocal tariffs" on top of levies on cars and metals, and has previously suggested that cars will be high on the agenda.
32% : Toyota sells one million foreign made automobiles into the United States and General Motors sells almost none," said Trump on the day that reciprocal tariffs were announced in early April.
31% : Trump has perplexed officials in Tokyo with a reference to a Japanese "bowling-ball" test -- dropping a bowling ball on to a car and failing any vehicle if its bonnet dents under the impact.
21% : While Japan remains in search of compromises that might appeal to Trump, any compromise on safety standards might not be accepted by prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is trying to shore up his popularity and has repeatedly referred to Trump's tariffs as having precipitated a "national crisis".

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