U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley expressed concern Thursday over the increases in Japan's trade and current account surpluses and called for an economic recovery led by domestic demand.
"We have problems to address, particularly in the economic sphere," Foley said. "The most visible of these -- and one of the most troubling to many Americans -- is the sharp rise over the past year in Japan's trade and current account surpluses.
"Our bilateral trade imbalance is also rising, while American exports to Japan have failed to continue their previous growth," the new ambassador said in his first press conference since he assumed the post Wednesday. Foley said he is concerned about the slow growth of Japan's economy because the U.S. hopes to more actively sell manufactured products in Japan.