Dear Editor,

I note in the news media recently a threat to artificially inflate the cost of importing a Japanese market secondhand car by having an independent inspection of those cars carried out before they leave Japan. Please, sir, may I request the name or names of the company or companies who do this same inspection of all cars imported from the United States?

I understand part of the reasoning behind this move is uncertainty concerning the quality and safety of these imported vehicles and secondly it appears a number of these vehicles are being sold by unregistered “bush” car lots. Sir, to the first point, you know my thoughts, if offered the choice of a 10 year old Japanese car and 4 year old American car I would pick the Japanese every time and secondly, it is, surely, not beyond the abilities of our regulatory bodies to close down any such illegal car lot?

Lastly, sir, it is difficult enough for Joe Blow over the hill to find the wherewithal to buy his own private transport, which with this Japanese market was just coming within his reach; apparently, now, to have it whipped from his grasp.

Harry Strachan