U.S. Negotiators Cite Little Progress in Japan Trade Talks

WASHINGTON — Top U.S. trade negotiators told Congress today that they have been disappointed with the lack of progress so far in efforts to reduce Japanese barriers to American imports.

But the negotiators held out hope that the weekend summit between President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu may re-energize the stalled talks.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative S. Linn Williams told a Senate trade subcommittee that in the three rounds of talks held so far, little progress has been made. He said the Japanese negotiators have raised a number of reasons for being unable to make the reforms sought by the American side.

“We are not satisfied with the progress of the talks,” Williams said. “The basic question is whether the Japanese side sees (the negotiations) as damage-control and a public relations exercise or as a substantive effort. On that, the jury is still out.”