Trade With Japan

In response to “Japan Fears It Will Be the Next Target for a Trade War,” Nov. 23:

So the Japanese can ban rice imports and demand if rice is imported, that they be allowed to place a 900% tariff on the imported rice. Well, why not? Playing by their own rules has benefited them so far, and no country has retaliated. They have nothing to fear, so why not continue?

You can’t help but wonder that if the United States operated in the same way, how much better off our industries (i.e., auto), the American work force and our economy would be. Or, do you suppose if the United States did the same thing it would be called “protectionism”?

The Japan-U.S. trade imbalance is totally ludicrous. We should have the tenacity to either adopt their attitudes and policies for importing foreign goods or they should adopt ours. At any rate, the rules should be the same for everyone!

GLENDA N. MADDOX

Irvine