Thatcher Asks Japan to Increase Imports From Rest of World

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher started a visit to Japan today by warning that Japan has “quite a long way to go” in lowering barriers to imports from the rest of the world.

Thatcher, who relishes the role of drum-beater for British industry while on overseas trips, took up the cause of firms exporting to Japan during a visit to a major Tokyo bank.

Inspecting the foreign exchange dealing room, which uses British high-technology systems, she declared: “This is the kind of export we wish to see more of. It is a very good example.”

Asked about recent Japanese moves to make foreign goods, including Scotch whisky, more available, she said: “There’s quite a long way to go. The Japanese government have taken down some tariff barriers. It’s other kinds of barriers that are more difficult to get rid of.”