The frenetic purchasing by some Japanese trading companies, in particular, had emerged as a sore subject and one that, amid the whiskey and cigars that evening in Lantzke’s office, stirred much debate. Finally, as the hour got close to midnight, the imposing Count Etienne Davignon of Belgium, a prominent and forceful Commissioner of the European Community, lost his patience. He focused on the Japanese representative. “If you don’t get your trading companies under control,” Davignon bluntly said, “you can forget about any more Toyotas and Sonys coming into Europe.” The room went silent. The
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