Those motorized bikes are pretty cool, but I need to pedal my fat a$$ around so I can lose some weight.

That's the beauty - when your Chinese engine takes a dump, you now have to pedal 20 extra pounds around!!

So there is Zero import tax on a new Japanese vehicle that was 100%
built offshore?
I find that hard to believe.

There are games to play with components too. Countries that have a value added tax or sales tax collect nothing on parts exported to the US at inflated values. The US collects nothing on them coming in and less income tax because the inflated cost of the parts lowers the profits our income tax is based on. You would think the American unions would be screaming to dump our unfair income tax and switch to sales or value added tax. Foreign goods would then pay the same tax rates as American made. DUH!

I understand if you dare to buy import in Korea,you are in for a audit from the the Korean IRS

The problem with the car tax in Japan is that it is based on displacement. That puts the incentive on Japan's car builders to build the high HP/L engines, whereas US builders just build whatever displacement is right for the engineers. The fuel efficiency of the GM 3800 is amazing for what it does.

So this lead to an interesting situation in the late 1990s, early 2000s. A Nissan Maxima would always beat the Mazda Millinia S in value because a 3.0L or 3.5L NA engine costs less to build than a 2.3L supercharged engine, and they got similar horsepower numbers.

The US imposes a 25% tariff on trucks imported into the US.
Look up "Chicken Tax"

Look it up...it's published in their tarrifs rate.

But...you'll have to produce a RHD version, and comply with a lot of laws and stuff.

Just like when GMH (Australia) produce Pontiac GTOs, and G8s for the US market. They have to be LHD, move the fuel tanks, change a lot of other stuff...and they still get sold for cheaper than the Oz ones to Australians

A lot of countries that have traffic congestion and pollution issues tax the imports based on the engine displacement. A side benefit is that these smaller engines consume less imported hydrocarbons.

Many countries in the Far East tax automobiles heavily. It is not a USA-tax, even cars from Europe are taxed. China and HK tax cars from Japan and Korea as well. I don't know if they tax domestic cars or if it's only imports.

I know that an Accord costs over $55,000 USD in China/HK/Singapore. The tax is to discourage personal automobile use due to traffic and air quality. BMWs cost over $100k.

Try owning a car in Singapore...the costs are an order of magnitude higher than what we're used to:
http://www.expatsingapore.com/content/view/1152

All cars in japan, whether foreign or domestic, are taxed once a year in May based on their engine displacement.
Kei-cars <660cc - ¥8200
660-999cc - 30000
1000-1499cc - ¥35000
and every 500ccs up adds 5000 yen to the tax.
Insurance is also based on displacement, but not so highly in favor of the kei cars.

There is also not much OEM stuff for imports. All domestics have dealer support, and no aftermarket. Meaning if I want to replace the door locks in my Daihatsu Move, they will be from Daihatsu. But, you can find import parts online. Finding a PCV valve for a 1999 Chevy Astro is much easier than a 1999 Daihatsu Move. I wanted to buy a Saturn, but I would have to import my own parts if something broke, since Saturn left Japan in 1999 or 2000.

Taxes aren't the only way a country can keep foreign cars out. The Japanese were masters at keeping U.S. cars out of their market when their cars were complete P.O.S. When I was there, only the Yakuza were able to afford only the big Buicks. And the Japanese cars domestically were [censored] compared to their export versions (that cost less in Los Angeles than they did in Nagasaki).
Free trade is a myth.

You can say that again...Oz keeps signing these stupid trade agreements with countries who will take Iron ore, transporting huge tonnages, huge distances but not finished steel, and cherry pick the products that will be allowed in.

Smaller engine displacement does not automatically mean smaller fuel consumption, or a reduction in smog.

Ever read about the fuel consumption on C5 and C6 Corvettes? Those engines were 5.7 or 6.0 liters.