P. M. BRIEFING : U.S.-Japan Steel Talks Set Monday
Japan and the United States will begin negotiations in Tokyo on Monday on a new quota for Japanese steel exports to the United States, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said today.
Ministry officials said that both sides will present their basic positions and that full-scale talks will start later this month.
The session stems from a U.S. decision to extend the five-year voluntary restraint agreements with major steel producing countries for 2 1/2 years.
The current arrangement, which is due to expire Sept. 30, limits U.S. steel imports from the European Community, Japan, South Korea and 17 other countries to 18.5% of total domestic consumption.
Ministry officials said Japan will ask the United States not to reduce Japan’s quota, now set at a maximum of 8.5% of U.S. consumption.
There were signs that the United States will seek to reduce Japan’s quota on the basis of its shipments in 1988, the official said.
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