In Brief : Japan to Retain Car Export Quota

Japan will maintain voluntary restrictions on its auto exports to the United States in the coming year, sticking to its self-imposed quota of 2.3 million cars, the government said today.

The limit will stay only as long as Japan is concerned about a resurgence of car exports to the United States, and the Trade Ministry will remove the curbs as soon as it is satisfied that the exports will not increase, Minister for International Trade and Industry Hiroshi Mitsuzuka told reporters.

The voluntary limit is for the fiscal year beginning April 1, Mitsuzuka said.

Japan is wary that an export resurgence could spark friction with its largest trading partner, economists said. Tokyo imposed U.S. export quotas in 1981, when Congress threatened to curb imports of Japanese-made small cars.

Japanese car makers failed to meet their quotas last year and appear certain to fall short again this year.