WASHINGTON -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. arm criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on imported cars in a statement released Friday, saying the automaker does not pose a "national security threat" to the country.
Responding to Trump's declaration that an increase in the number of imported vehicles and parts poses a national security threat, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. said in its statement that the automaker's "operations and employees contribute significantly to the American way of life, the U.S. economy and are not a national security threat."
The statement said Toyota employs 475,000 people and has invested more than 60 billion dollars (about 6.6 trillion yen) in the United States over the more than 60 years it has been operating in the country. It also pointed out that more than 36 million Toyota vehicles are now on U.S. roads.
It is rare for the automaker to criticize a U.S. administration, with the announcement going so far as to say: "Today's proclamation sends a message to Toyota that our investments are not welcomed, and the contributions from each of our employees across America are not valued."
On Friday, Trump announced that he would delay a decision on whether to impose tariffs on imported cars by up to 180 days, while also instructing the U.S. Trade Representative to discuss measures with the European Union, Japan and any other country.
According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the United States imported about 1.72 million vehicles from Japan in 2018, the second-largest after Mexico, from which it imported about 2.66 million.
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