JAPAN

Rice Ban Intact, Hosokawa Says: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa denied reports that Japan has reached a deal with the United States to lift its longstanding ban on rice imports. Two major newspapers, Nihon Keizai and Mainichi, reported Friday that Japan had agreed in principle to allow imports at negotiable tariffs providing it was given six years to prepare. During that time, the reports said, rice imports would be limited to between 3% and 8% of national consumption. A poor harvest forced Japan to open the door this year to rice shipments from China, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States. The government has said that the foreign rice is a one-time emergency measure and that Japan will maintain its policy of self-reliance on food.