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."