JAPAN

Car Makers Reach U.S. Parts Goal: Japan’s 11 auto makers bought $19.86 billion worth of U.S.-made car parts last fiscal year, beating their goal of $19 billion, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. said. The trade group assessed the results of so-called “voluntary” plans drawn up by Japan’s auto industry in January, 1992, after then-President George Bush led a delegation of U.S. business leaders to Tokyo in an effort to pressure Japan to open its markets. The total number of U.S.-made parts bought in the year ended March 31 was 27.8% higher than the previous year. They included parts Japanese auto makers used at their U.S. factories, parts they imported to Japan and parts bought from Japanese auto components makers with factories in the United States.