U.S. Auto Makers Ask for Investigation : Study Says Japan Dumping Trucks

Five Japanese auto makers have been dumping small trucks on the U.S. market, costing U.S. workers jobs and the U.S. auto industry $500 million in lost wages, sales and profits, a study released Wednesday said.

The 42-page study was commissioned by the U.S. Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Assn. on behalf of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp.

“The study analysts concluded that the effect of this dumping margin was something on the order of 140,000 lost units of production to U.S. manufacturers,” said Thomas Hanna, the group’s president.

The investigation, by the Washington law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, found that the five Japanese companies are selling compact pickup trucks for 10% to 48% less in the United States than they charge in their Japanese market.

Dumping is illegal under trade agreements between the United States and its foreign partners. The companies charged with dumping by the group are Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp., Isuzu Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Toyota immediately denied the charges in a statement by Robert McCurry, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

“Any assertions that Japanese compact trucks are injuring or threatening to injure the U.S. industry ring hollow,” McCurry said. “First, U.S. producers are enjoying their greatest success in history, collectively continuing to set records for sales and profits.

“Second, Japanese truck sales continue to decline and presently represent the smallest share of the U.S. market since compact trucks were introduced by the Japanese,” he said.

McCurry has been the most outspoken Japanese auto company executive in denying charges leveled this year, particularly by Chrysler Corp. executives.