Facts: Zurcher was injured when his motorcycle went out of control and collided with a tractor. He sued the maker of the tube, Cheng Shin Rubber Company, Ltd. (a Taiwanese corporation) claiming it was defective. In turn Cheng Shin filed a cross complaint against the maker of the valve, Asahi Metal claiming faulty valve assembly. Zurcher settled his case, leaving the cross complaint..

Procedure: Asahi moved to quash arguing the state could not exert jurisdiction over it, consistent with the Due Process Clause of thr 14^th Amendment. Asahi is a Japanese corporation with no direct contact with the USA. The California Supreme Court found the exercise of jurisdiction over Asahi to be consistent with the Due Process clause. The USSC reversed.

Issue: Does CA have jurisdiction over Asahi Metal, a Japanese corporation, whose only connection to CA is in the valves in tires which are eventually sold in CA by another Asian company.

Rationale: Considering the international context, the heavy burden on the alien defendant, and the slight interest of the plaintiff and the forum State, the exercise of personal jurisdiction by a CA court in this instance would be unreasonable and unfair.