FEW of us would deny the quality and excellence of Japanese products, which stand head and shoulders above what most of Europe has to offer, and which Japanese car manufacturers like Honda now endeavour to sell on the EU market.

But however much the Prime Minister and the Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers may sympathise and listen to their fears that the strong pound and the still floundering Euro may be damaging their efforts, it should be pointed out to them that EU protectionism involves not only the quotas of our entire agricultural and dairy products, but also our car industry.

Thanks to deals and sweeteners between government and industry, European car manufacturers have profited for years from a host of exemptions to free-trade rules, the most blatant being the EU quotas on Japanese cars to protect European producers.

While this may be a cosy arrangement between governments and industry compensating any loss, it debauches the principles of a free common market and is unlikely to be overlooked by any British motorist who have each been outrageously overcharged to the tune of thousands by these prices.

It certainly begs the question of who remains to fight Britain's corner against the continuing corruption and machinations of the EU, with our politicians in their present grovel mode and obviously lacking both the wit and the courage to do so?

With the rest of the EU making up the rules as they go and to suit themselves, joining the Euro or the value of the pound will make not one iota of difference to exports to the EU. They have long made it perfectly clear they do not want Japanese, or anyone else's, cars in competition with their own.

W G GLASS

Beech Avenue, Swindon