P.M. BRIEFING : Japan Faults U.S. for Trade Woes

Renewed U.S. pressure on Japan to open up its construction trade met with fresh Japanese accusations today that American firms do not try hard enough to crack into the market.

U.S. Trade Representative Carla Anderson Hills told Japanese Construction Minister Shozo Harada she wants action on five proposals she made last month, Harada told reporters. The proposals included action against bid-rigging by construction companies and clarifying standards for selecting final bidders.

Harada said he told Hills that Japan welcomes U.S. firms, but he urged American companies to make more efforts here. “U.S. firms should be more active in Japan, like our companies have been in their land,” he said.

A special panel of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office will decide by Nov. 21 what action, if any, the United States should take to open Japan’s construction market.