Business: A Lack of U.S. Salesmanship?

Japanese buying mission seeks U.S. imports

American businessmen have long been enraged and frustrated by what they consider a one-sided Japanese attitude on trade. While exporting furiously, the Japanese have put imported products through a thicket of protective tariffs and a maze of nontariff barriers ranging from quotas to stringent labeling requirements. One result: a GE refrigerator sells for $2,075 in Tokyo, compared with $1,289 in New York City. Little wonder, then, that many U.S. companies saw no point in even trying to crack the Japanese market.

There are some signs, though, that tough behind-the-scenes talk by officials of the Carter Administration is...

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