s is combined with a weakcurrency, it is a recipe for fewer Japanese imports and more Japaneseexports. This pattern is already showing up. In the past year, Japan'stotal imports have fallen by one quarter, and it's non-oil imports by 10percent. In the case of Canada and the United States, both of which aremounting recoveries in their own economies - Japan is each ones secondlargest trading partner. Needless to say, the last thing either of thesetwo economies needs is a Japan that buys less and sells more, and becomes aroadblock in their road to recovery.Americans are looking for a way to come out of their recession andbecome a growing world economy once again. Japan is right in their way.America, so used to being on top, has never been so vulnerable. I believethat if Americans don't do anything, like provide incentives to "buyAmerican" and change the way they work and compete, then it is going tostay this way. Japan may help them, now and then, like they are starting tonow, but that may not last. I believe that they can either become more likethe Japanese, giving up the lifestyles so grown accustomed to, by workingharder for less money, or learn to live with not always being on top of theworld economy. It is always hard to change, but sometimes you have to....
