The U.S. government, frustrated by an expanding trade deficit with Japan, on Friday urged Tokyo to promote deregulation, stimulate its economy and open its markets in a wide range of sectors -- from rice, telecommunications and financial services to energy and information technology.
In an annual trade report released Friday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the administration of President George W. Bush attaches "top priority" to opening Japan's markets to U.S. goods and services. "In line with this objective, the United States continues to stress the vital need for sustained, domestic demand-led growth," the report said, urging the Japanese government to implement comprehensive deregulation.
The 2001 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers listed 55 countries which Washington says maintain barriers against goods and services from the U.S. Complaints about Japan covered 59 items in 10 industry sectors.
The report serves as a basis for the USTR to designate by the end of April priority foreign countries and practices under the so-called Super 301 trade provision for imposing sanctions. It said Japan is the United States' third largest trading partner, accounting for more than $250 billion in two-way goods and services trade.