Ever since Toyotas and Hondas were forcing Detroit to shape up
the hard way, the US government has pushed Japan to open up its
markets, particularly its automotive market, and the fact that
it’s still pushing shows how little success it has had.  Back in
the 90s, the cited reason for the near non-existence of US-
branded cars in Japan was that they weren't of the quality
Japanese consumers wanted. OK, but today?  "The US government
urges Japan to address the full range of barriers in Japan's
automotive market," pleaded the Office of the US Trade
Representative in its just released 2012 National Trade Estimate
Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.  Indeed, the Japanese
automotive market remains largely sealed off to US automakers
through nontariff barriers such as lack of transparency,
standards and certification issues, and impediments in building
distribution and service networks.  It’s not just cars. The
racket to protect Japan’s pork producers is almost silly—and
very costly to the hapless Japanese consumer. Im