P. M. BRIEFING : U.S. Builders Assail Japanese Curbs

WASHINGTON — The American construction industry said today that Japan’s closed construction market was denying U.S. firms up to $2-billion worth of work a year on Japanese projects.

Derish Wolff, chairman of the International Engineering and Construction Industry Council, said that despite an agreement last year to end trade barriers, “U.S. firms have been virtually unable to penetrate the Japanese market.” He made his remarks to a special panel formed by the Trade Representative’s Office to review Japan’s construction practices and weigh possible trade sanctions against Japan. The panel, which is to meet with Japanese officials next month, is to decide by Nov. 20 what action, if any, to take to open Japan’s construction market.