Bush’s Trade Trip to Asia

The headline reads: “Japan Hints It May Ease Curbs on U.S. Products” (Dec. 30). The article, itself, refutes even that concession.

Are we such patsies that that we can be pushed around by a bunch of unconscionable predators like the Japanese? Don’t we hold the whip handle? Couldn’t Bush simply announce to the Japanese to cut the trade imbalance for 1992 by $10 billion, and that he would cut off all exports from Japan, by decree, when a $40-billion deficit is reached, and that similar cuts would be required in future years until a balance is reached?

BEN AUSTIN, San Marino