Our views: ; Fuel standards have consequences; Mandating 35 miles per gallon will harm American car companies

Congressional Quarterly's CQ Politics Web site reports that Houseand Senate negotiators are pretty close to an agreement that wouldraise the federal mandate for fuel efficiency to 35 miles per gallonby 2020.

This comes 30 years after the first time Congress tried to solvean oil crisis by mandating higher gas mileage.

It led to smaller, lighter cars that traded safety for fuelefficiency. It also led to the Japanese car industry, which alreadyhad small cars, gaining a larger portion of the American car market.

In the most ironic twist, it led to the demise of the stationwagon and the rise of the sport utility vehicle.

The price of oil fell and undercut the …