At its U.S. debut, the redesigned LS 400 retained a pricing advantage over European competitors in its largest market, launching with a base price of US$51,000.[1] However, cost differences had narrowed following more aggressive pricing and added feature content from rival manufacturers.[2] To promote their new flagship, Lexus launched a US$50 million advertising campaign, the most expensive marketing effort since the launch of the division.[71] In mid-1995, sales slowed as the U.S. government threatened tariffs on Japanese luxury cars over the widening U.S.-Japan trade deficit, potentially raising the price of a fully optioned LS 400 to over US$100,000.[77] Subsequent negotiations averted the sanctions by the second quarter of that year, and sales recovered in the following months.[77] Ultimately, second-generation LS 400 sales were lower than the original model;[71] production totaled approximately 114,000 units.[4]