U.S. slams 46 nations over trade barriers

U.S. slams 46 nations over trade barriers

WASHINGTON (AP): The United States alleged that Japan and 45
other nations, including Indonesia, have erected harmful trade
barriers that are costing American businesses and farmers
billions of dollars of lost sales annually.

In the annual review of unfair trade practices, the Clinton
administration said Monday that while progress had been made,
much remained to be done to level the playing field for American
companies.

"Many markets around the world remain closed to U.S. exports
and to the extent our trade deficit is the result of these
barriers ... they must be reduced," said U.S. Trade
Representative Charlene Barshefsky.

In addition to 46 individual countries, the report of the most
onerous trade barriers around the world also included four
trading groups, including the 15-nation European Union.

The 387-page report covers countries from Argentina to
Zimbabwe in a lengthy recitation of trading practices the
administration has found objectionable.

Japan led the list in terms of areas cited as problems, taking
up 46 pages in the report, followed by the European Union, at 26
pages, and China with 17 pages.

No country was removed from the list this year and four -
Ecuador, Ethiopia, Panama and Paraguay - were added.

From this broad report covering objectionable trade practices,
the administration has 30 days to select a smaller list of
countries for negotiations in the area of improper protection of
copyrights and patents.

In addition, six months from now, the administration faces a
Sept. 30 deadline in which it can target a handful of countries
under its "Super 301" negotiating authority.

In both the copyright area, known as "Special 301" for the
section of trade law being used, and the "Super 301" designation
failure to reach a successful conclusion of negotiations could
result in the imposition of U.S. trade penalties.

While the administration has used the threat of the Super 301
designation to force countries to grant bargaining concessions,
it has yet to impose any economic sanctions under the provisions.

Last year, it did use the Super 301 process to inform four
countries - Indonesia, Brazil, Australia and Argentina - that it
planned to bring cases against them before the new World Trade
Organization.

In discussing Japan, Barshefsky singled out problems in
protection of copyrights on computer software to opening up the
country's giant telecommunications market to greater access by
U.S. telecommunications companies.

On China, Barshefsky said that American companies and farmers
still faced numerous barriers trying to get into that country's
huge market.

"China's growing economic strength, coupled with its focus on
boosting competitiveness in certain export-oriented industries,
requires continued vigilance by the administration to ensure
China's policies and practices are consistent with existing
bilateral agreements and are in line with international rules."

On the European Union, Barshefsky said she was "particularly
concerned by the EU's pervasive discrimination against U.S.
agriculture exports - including rice, wheat, wheat flour,
bananas, beef, dairy products and certain fruit."