Japan resists trade pressure

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 11

Japan resists trade pressure

From

BRUCE ROSCOE

in Tokyo

In spite of the Japanese Government’s pledge to remove 67 non-tariff barriers to trade, three agricultural committees of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have said they would resist calls for liberalisation of crucial agricultural imports. According to a business report in Tokyo’s daily “Yomiuri” newspaper, the committees have made it clear they would not succumb to foreign pressure to lift restrictions on farm produce trade, in order to protect local farmers who are traditionally strong supporters of the party. Japan imposes quotas on 27 import items, 22 of which are agricultural' products, which the Japanese Government sees as vital for the protection of domestic industries. Mr Kichiro Tazawa. Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,' has said that

the Government would “review” the quotas after the Paris economic summit in June. Trade sources said the United States was subjecting Japan to heavy pressure to have, in particular, beef and citrus restrictions lifted, and trade concessions could follow the June summit. New Zealand trade officials in Tokyo say New Zealand will be “keeping a close eye” on the Paris meetings, because there could be worth-while spin-offs. The agricultural committees’ iron stance on farm trade, according to the officials, is symbolic of the battle among factions within the Japanese bureaucracy and political parties over the exent to which Japan should open its market. Farm lobbies have become restless at their Government’s promise to remove many non-tariff barriers and have sought confirmation from the Liberal Democratic Party that they will continue to receive favoured treatment.