"Hello? Mr. Toyota? I'm Carter."

"I would like to ask if Toyota has a van model now? It is a small urban transportation vehicle! I need some here."

When thinking about distribution needs, Carter naturally thought of Toyota!

What's more embarrassing is that in Carter's memory, Toyota's vans only seem to be the premium king Alpha. This car is really not suitable as a tool for transporting sheets, and Carter doesn't know about other models.

So, he dialed Akio Toyoda's phone number.

"Yes, yes, Hiace h50 should be able to meet your needs. But what about Mitsubishi's L300 or Nissan's Baning and Jiaben? These cars should be what you call minivans. They are suitable for short-distance urban transportation.

Medium, the effects are almost the same!”

Akio Toyoda's reply came quickly, but there seemed to be a very reluctant flavor in his words.

"How about I introduce you to people from Nissan, or people from Mitsubishi or Isuzu? Their vans are also pretty good."

"Wait a minute, I have a question! Mr. Toyota, since you have models that meet my needs, why do you want to push the order out? Is it because you don't like my order, or is it a cost-effective issue?"

After a moment of doubt, Carter suddenly remembered that he seemed to have not said the order quantity yet. So he quickly added:

"By the way, I should only need 5 vehicles. For the time being. This is the first order. There may be additional ones in the future. I plan to build a hotel chain brand and transport dirty sheets in the hotel. These vehicles will be needed. If this business

It’s developing well, and there should be more additions. Don’t be dissatisfied just because there are few orders!”

"How could it be possible?! I'm not that kind of person! I only need five cars."

For some reason, Carter heard a hint of relaxation, even joy, in Toyoda's tone!

"If you only need five cars, that's no problem! I'll call my dad later to discuss it. With our relationship, it's appropriate to squeeze out the five-car quota for you."

"You still have to squeeze in five cars? Is the market performance of this car very hot?"

By this time of the phone call, Carter realized more and more that he couldn't understand the situation.

"It's not this. Do you know why I am so actively pushing Toyota to build a factory in the United States?"

"Tariff barriers? I remember you said that before"

"Yes, and also wrong!"

Right or wrong?

Carter touched his chin and subconsciously wanted to call Goodman over and ask him if the man in Washington had any new policies. But when his eyes turned to the door

Fortunately, even without Goodman, Toyoda quickly answered:

"Yes, because what I worried about at the beginning was tariff barriers! In recent years, our Japanese cars have taken an increasing share of the U.S. market, and President Carter's attitude has been wavering. In January last year, the U.S. Embassy in Japan

The ambassador pointed out the deepening auto trade conflict between the United States and Japan during a meeting with the news media."

"In the words of Ambassador Mansfield, if this trade issue is not restricted, it will definitely rise to a serious political issue. At that time, the Ambassador proposed that we hope that our two major companies, Toyota and Nissan, will follow the example of Honda's Ohio plant and expand its operations in the United States.

Direct investment and construction of factories to solve the problem of excessive unemployment among American auto workers.”

"Then in February, Mr. Frazier, the chairman of the United Automobile Workers Union, also went to Japan. He threatened us at that time that if we did not go to the United States to build a factory, then out of consideration of protecting the rights of American auto workers, their union would

can only be forced to support trade protectionist policies.”

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Automobile Workers Union, these words are so domineering!

Although it sounds like an industry union organization dares to threaten another country, which is a bit contrary to common sense. But if Carter thinks about it carefully, he will find that they seem to be able to do it!

In addition to its influence among hundreds of thousands or even millions of auto workers, combined with President Carter's hesitant attitude at the time, once the auto union has the driving force, perhaps

"So you are worried that if you don't come to the United States to invest and build factories, the U.S. government will raise tariffs on Japanese car imports, causing you to lose market competitiveness. I understand this, but what you said is wrong, and why? No.

Is there a tariff issue? I remember when you called me last time to inform me that the Georgia factory plan was approved, it seemed that you were talking about tariffs."

"Because of the increase in tariffs, your conservative grandfather Eiji made up his mind to build a factory in the United States. I remember you told me this at the time."

"Oh, forget it. Now that I have said it, I am not afraid to tell you the truth. This should be a family scandal! It is a shame for Japan! Especially the traitors and insiders in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry

ghost!"

"On May 1 this year, the Minister of International Trade and Industry officially issued a statement on restrictive measures for the export of cars to the United States. The first phase of these restrictive measures will be three years, starting from April this year to March 1984. We in Japan have

The number of sedans exported from the United States shall not exceed 1.68 million units!”

"Each company has been assigned a quota, and our Toyota only has 516,659 units."

The numbers that are divided and rounded are full of Akio Toyoda's anger. Anyone whose hands and feet are restricted by the rules will not feel good psychologically!

Carter understands this very well.

Obviously my technology is more advanced, the quality of the car is better, and the sales volume is also better! But in the end, it is restricted by laws and regulations, and you are not allowed to sell it!

"I know that Japanese cars have an impact on the U.S. auto industry and the market! From the perspective of the U.S. government, it is their duty to protect their country's auto industry and industrial workers! Whether it is raising tariffs or restricting

I can understand the import quantity!”

"cocoa"

"But unfortunately, it's your own people here who restrict your steps!"

Carter shook his head and sighed, this is it

"That's right! It's not the U.S. government, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Customs that has tied our hands and feet! It's our own Ministry of International Trade and Industry! What hasn't the U.S. done yet? Even Mr. Reagan is said to be a free trader.

Supporters of doctrine. In this case, it would be better for them to hurriedly introduce a restrictive agreement and forcibly block us."

"It's hard for me to say this, but I think so. Even if there is no self-limitation agreement, the United States will raise tariffs. Whether it is free trade or conservatism, how important is the appetite of voters? What do you think?"

As a guy whose political outlook was for the masses, and who always fluctuated around the passing mark in every political exam, Carter had always had a scornful attitude toward so-called ideas and doctrines.

Any idea should serve the purpose of solving practical problems! He did not deny that there would be some politicians who, perhaps because they were stupid in reading, would really implement the idea into disregarding the facts and objective conditions. Perhaps they were called academics?

But Carter feels that for most politicians:

An idea that can solve problems is a good idea! If it cannot solve problems and conflicts, then the ideas you once adhered to will be worthless!

Based on Reagan's historical evaluation, Carter did not think he would be an idealistic academic.
Chapter completed!