U.S. allegations of discrimination in Japanese laws and actions on imported photographic film are "groundless," the government said Feb. 21.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry issued a statement saying that all of the allegedly unfair measures are "fully consistent" with GATT rules. The statement was in response to the submission of a brief by the U.S. to a World Trade Organization dispute panel contending that Japan's policies and practices have obstructed the sale of imported film. A ministry official said that the Japanese government will analyze specifics of the U.S. submission and present its opinions to the WTO by early April.