P. M. BRIEFING : 35 Nations Accused of Trade Barriers Against U.S. Products

The Bush Administration today accused 35 nations of erecting trade barriers against U.S. products, the first stage of a process that could result in retaliation against countries that refuse to open their doors to American goods.

The accusations were included in the 1990 edition of the “National Trade Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.’

Japan, which accounts for almost of half of America’s $109-billion trade deficit, was singled out for having more barriers than any other country, accounting for 19 pages in the 216-page report. South Korea was the second worst offender with 10 pages of alleged infractions.

Today’s report was the first step in drawing up a list of priority countries the Administration will target for intensive negotiations aimed at getting the offending trade barriers eliminated. That priority list is due on April 30.

The requirement for a target list of countries was the most controversial section of the 1988 trade law.

In addition to Japan and South Korea, 33 other nations and two trading blocs were singled out for barriers against U.S. products. The two trading blocs are the 12-nation European Community and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The other countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, West Germany, Finland, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Medico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.