MITI Official Says Talks Won’t Quickly End Dispute With U.S.

A high-ranking trade official here, warning that United States tariffs on Japanese goods are cutting “a deep scar” on the face of U.S.-Japan relations, has distanced himself from predictions by other Japanese officials that this week’s negotiations in Washington will result in an early end to the trade dispute.

The discussions, said Makoto Kuroda, a deputy minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, are at too “delicate” a stage to speculate on the outcome.

But Kuroda, who has been one of Japan’s chief negotiators in the 20-month-long dispute between the two countries over semiconductor trade, said late last week: “By nature I’m an optimist, but I’m not necessarily so on this occasion.”

Tariffs on $300 million worth of Japanese goods, including color televisions and power hand tools, were imposed April 17 by President Reagan in retaliation for what the U.S. contended was Japan’s failure to live up to an agreement between the two countries limiting Japan’s exports of semiconductors.

Kuroda is scheduled to meet with U.S. trade officials next Thursday and Friday to compare data that he said will show “clear signs” that Japan has been making progress in implementing the accord.

Some Japanese officials have said they expect the sanctions to be lifted before the Venice (economic) summit of the Western industrial nations June 8-10. But U.S. officials in Washington this week said it is unlikely that the sufficient time has elapsed to merit termination of the entire $300 million of tariffs.