Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994 TAG: 9402260022
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE: TOKYO LENGTH: Medium
U.S. officials have repeatedly urged Japan to simplify its import procedures and other restrictions that they say keep the Japanese auto market effectively closed to foreign-made products.
The auto trade has drawn particularly close attention because it accounts for about two-thirds of Japan's nearly $60 billion trade surplus with the United States.
At present, foreign automakers must ship new cars to Japan for inspection and submit paperwork to the Transport Ministry before they can begin sales - a procedure that often takes two months to complete.
Naoki Esumi of the Transport Ministry's Office of International Affairs said he thought American auto makers would welcome the decision to station an inspector in Detroit.
Masayuki Shima of the ministry's engineering and planning division will begin working as an inspector at the Japanese Consulate General in Detroit on April 1, Esumi said.
Meanwhile, Nissan Corp. Chairman Yutaka Kume, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said the Japanese auto industry would help U.S. auto firms promote sales in Japan.
Trade Minister Hiroshi Kumagai urged Japanese automakers to come to terms with the "extremely difficult reality" of trade talks with the United States, which collapsed Feb. 11 when the two sides failed to reach agreement on setting targets to measure the success of market-opening measures.
Kumagai said Japanese firms should do something to soothe U.S. anger over the issue or risk possible trade sanctions.
Major Japanese automakers have been trying since 1989 to boost their purchases of foreign auto parts.
by CNB