Japan Heads List For Unfair Trade

The United States alleged that Japan and 45 other nations have erected harmful trade barriers that are costing American businesses and farmers billions of dollars of lost sales annually.

In the annual review of unfair trade practices, the Clinton administration said today that while progress had been made, much remained to be done to level the playing field.

“Many markets around the world remain closed to U.S. exports and to the extent our trade deficit is the result of these barriers … they must be reduced,” said U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky.

In addition to 46 individual countries, the report of the most onerous trade barriers around the world also included four trading groups, including the 15-nation European Union.

The 387-page report covers countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe in a lengthy recitation of trading practices the administration has found objectionable.

Japan led the list in terms of areas cited as problems, taking up 46 pages in the report, followed by the European Union, at 26 pages, and China with 17 pages.

No country was removed from the list this year and four - Ecuador, Ethiopia, Panama and Paraguay - were added.