WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States asked Japan on Thursday to ensure fair market competition between the companies to be created from Japan Post and its rivals, and Tokyo asked Washington to postpone its enhanced antiterrorism measures.

The requests were made in the annual exchange of regulatory reform recommendations in Washington between Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Fujisaki and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Josette Shiner.

The U.S. reform report says requests related to the privatization of Japan Post are central to this year's recommendations.