U.S.-Japan Relations

* Re James A. Baker’s column, “Clinton’s Search for a Foreign Economic Policy,” Opinion, July 31:

In contrast to James Baker, who wisely advocates sustained U.S. support for reform forces within Japan, President Clinton seems highly confused and his economic diplomacy with Japan has been, if anything, counterproductive.

When the reform-minded Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa was in office, he pushed hard for domestic political reform, more open trade and economic deregulation, all of which directly or indirectly benefit the United States. However, President Clinton, caught up with domestic politics, chose to harass and insult Hosokawa and his supporters. Understandably, such hard-line posturing and name-calling ended up undermining the fragile coalition of Hosokawa and the entire reform movement in Japan. Clinton’s own credibility was also seriously eroded, not only in Japan but throughout Asia.

And yet since the protectionist, anti-reform Socialists took over the Japanese government a month ago, Clinton has become conciliatory and even supportive of this Socialist-led government of Japan. It doesn’t make any sense, does it?

TOSHIYA TOMITANI

Fullerton

* One million new jobs for America overnight. The Japanese trade deficit equals 1 million American jobs. If Americans stopped buying Japanese cars tomorrow, those 1 million jobs would start returning.

Americans should stop expecting our government to end the Japanese trade deficit. The government’s efforts have been ineffective anyway. But, Americans themselves have the power to end the Japanese trade deficit. Just stop buying their cars.

The United States should trade freely with Japan and the rest of the world, but we shouldn’t allow any country to sucker us into a $60-billion trade deficit.

BOB SPENCE

Newport Beach