The japanese government came out this Friday in defense of Toyota and its automotive industry after Donald Trump threatened the builder with customs fees if it builds a plant in Mexico and not in the united States.
“japan’s auto industry has 1.5 million workers in the united States and is a major contribution to the american economy,” said minister of trade, Hiroshige Seko, in a press conference.
“it Is important that the companies say and the government also have to remember, if it is necessary,” added.
For its part, the government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, did not hesitate to defend the builder. “Toyota has always strived to behave as a responsible company in the united States,” he said, and assured that the president-elect “is a man of business who has worked abroad and I should know”.
Toyota, the world leader in the automotive sector for several years, recalled the figures of its activity in the united States, with 25 million vehicles produced in the country in the past 30 years, 10 factories and 136.000 workers.
“Toyota is part of the social fabric of american from 60 years ago”, the company said in a statement.
Trump, who will assume the presidency on January 20, railed Thursday in a tweet against the project of the japanese band to build a plant in Mexico.
“Toyota Motor says it wants to build a new plant in Baja, California, Mexico, to manufacture cars Corolla for the united States. DON’T TALK! Build the plant in the united States or to pay a large tax at the border”,, he wrote on Twitter.
Toyota has a plant in Baja California, where it manufactures trucks Tacoma, but Trump wrote, wrongly, that the new plant is also in such a state, when in reality it is being built in Guanajuato.
on Friday, Toyota shares came to lose more than 3% on the Tokyo stock exchange and closed with a fall of -1,68% 6.930 yen.
Across the industry, in the spotlight
Before the threat of Trump, the ceo of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, had insisted on the contribution of the company in the united States through taxes and the creation of jobs.
Toyota also claims to be the constructor that less car ‘made in Mexico’ exports to the united States, with only 78.000 Tacoma sold in 2015. Mexico is the fourth largest exporter of light vehicles in the world and the seventh largest producer of automobiles, according to figures from the industry.
This sector, which generates 52,000 million dollars a year, represents more than 875.000 direct jobs across the country, according to the Ministry of Economy.
The main objective of Trump are the vehicles manufactured in Mexico and exported then to the united States, in some cases without tariffs thanks to the north american free trade among the united States, Mexico and Canada (NAFTA), heavily criticised by the future president.
Nissan’s rival Toyota, has not yet suffered the attacks from Trump, but it is one of the builders with more implementation in Mexico.
In total produces 830.000 vehicles year model Sentra and Versa for the u.s. market.
Nissan, partner of Renault, is already in place in Mexico since 50 years ago, where it also is building a plant in collaboration with the German Daimler.
Honda is also very well implemented, with a production capacity of 260,000 units. For its part, Mazda, a small builder, sold in united States, vehicles made in Mexico and Japan. For the moment, however, the threats from Trump does not seem to worry investors.
On the Tokyo stock exchange the shares of the main companies of the sector only suffered falls moderate (Nissan -2,20%, Honda -1,90% and Mazda -3,16%).
Also the ceo of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, wanted to launch a reassuring message. “We are pragmatists, we will adapt to all situations, provided that it has the same rules for all,” he said from Las Vegas, where he participates in the fair electronic CES.
He recalled that Nissan has its largest plant in Tennessee (united States), where they make up to 650,000 cars a year, and that the total of their production in the united States is near a million units, with about 22,000 direct jobs.
In the same sense as a responsible Honda, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, said on japanese television that “it is premature” to react before Trump gets to the White House.
AFP
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