Japanese Found Hesitant to Cut Trade Surplus : Poll: Survey finds reservations in three-fourths of those polled. Only 13% favor altered industrial policies.

Three-fourths of Japanese polled by the government said they have reservations about reducing Japan’s trade surplus, news reports said Sunday.

Only 13% thought Japan should alter its industrial policies to address the nation’s trade imbalance with other nations. Twenty percent supported continuing a trade surplus because Japanese exports are considered inexpensive and good quality.

Just 17% felt Japan should unilaterally open its markets, but 34% said market-opening measures should be made along with similar moves by other nations.

The survey of more than 2,000 people was taken by the prime minister’s office in October and does not reflect recent tensions over the trade issue.

In recent weeks, many Japanese have been irritated by U.S. demands for changes in Japan’s trade practices. Those demands were highlighted during President Bush’ recent trip to Japan, where he was accompanied by the heads of U. S. auto firms who complained bitterly about the imbalance in the purchase of automobiles and auto parts.

Meanwhile, Americans were angered by a Japanese politician’s criticisms of U.S. workers and education.

Japan also announced last week that its overall trade surplus for 1991 jumped 50% from the previous year, the third biggest gain ever. However, its surplus with the United States rose only 1.3% to about $38 billion, the first increase in four years.

Economists said slackening demand for imports most likely caused a surge in the trade surplus in December.