Massive new trade deal cuts tariffs for Japanese cars to 15%, leaves EU carmakers reeling at 35%, and accidentally supercharges JDM hybrid culture in the process

Well, no one saw this one coming, did they? In what may turn out to be one of the most significant moments in modern automotive geopolitics, Japan and the US have quietly signed a trade deal that slashes tariffs on Japanese car imports into America down to just 15% — and, wait for it, with no import quotas whatsoever. That’s right. The floodgates are open.