Japan bowling ball test: What is it and why Trump called it a ‘non-tariff cheating’

President Donald Trump mentioned the ‘Japan bowling ball test’ in his latest ‘non-tariff cheating’ warning to trade partners

Published on: Apr 21, 2025, 07:01:53 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump mentioned the ‘Japan bowling ball test’ in his latest ‘non-tariff cheating’ warning to trade partners. In a post on Truth Social, the 78-year-old mentioned Protective Technical Standards, using the Japan bowling ball test as an example.

Donald Trump mentioned the Japan bowling ball test in a post on Sunday (AFP)

Other points mentioned by Trump were: Currency manipulation, VATs, ‘which act as tariffs and export subsidies’, dumping below cost, export subsidies, and other government subsidies, protective agricultural standards, counterfeiting, piracy, and IP theft, and transshipping to evade tariffs. He warned ‘non-tariff cheating’ could spoil relations with the United States.

However, Japan bowling ball test confused several voters, who wondered what the term means.

What is the Japan bowling ball test?

This is not the first time President Trump has accused Japan of using a bowling ball test to cheat US automakers out of selling cars to Japanese consumers.

“It’s the bowling ball test. They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car,” Trump said during a fundraising event in Missouri back in 2018, according to audio obtained by The Washington Post.

The then-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was asked about the comment. She replied, saying the president was ‘obviously joking’.

“The President has been talking about unfair trade practices for decades. It is not new for him. Part of the reason he was elected was to end unfair trade practices and push for free, fair and reciprocal trade so American goods can compete in more foreign markets,” she said.

The Washington Post reported that Trump was possibly referring to Nissan TV ad showing bowling balls hitting a car to demonstrate durability, or a Japanese pedestrian safety test using a head-shaped object the size of a bowling ball.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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