Business: No to Curbs on Japanese Cars

But even in Tokyo, talk of voluntary restraint is rising

In Detroit 1980 was the year the U.S. auto industry launched a do-or-die campaign against imports. Commercials have pitted new, small, front-wheel-drive cars against foreign competitors in bumper-to-bumper comparisons, as automen tried to fight their way out of an 18-month sales slump. Last week, however, they lost a major battle in their campaign. After 19 weeks of inquiry, including 44 hours of public hearings, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled 3 to 2 against an argument by Ford and the United Auto Workers' union that...

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