Interesting insider take on Nissan post-Ghosn... reuters report here that new management now considering axeing two plants, in addition to last year’s cuts, and might not wait for restructuring.. reuters.com/article/us-nis…
NB Japanese press reporting likely Japan demands in quick trade deal No 10 now prioritising - immediate end to auto tariffs (rather than phased over 8 years in EU-Jp deal) and ISDS - essentially Japan companies ability to sue UK Government (not in EU deal) japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/2…
Obvious context here is Nissan set up in UK, post EEC, expressly to access EU market tariff free, because could not directly from Japan. If correct, Japan could import Japan-made cars to UK tariff-free, while there remains uncertainty its UK-made cars could access EU tariff free
v delicate. Not clear how much leverage signing quick deal with Japan would actually give in negotiations with EU. Cheaper cars direct from Japan to UK, might incentivise EU carmaking nations to deal. But UK-EU WTO tariffs could then question UK car assembly biz model. Choices.
