International Business

U.S. to Take Japan Case to WTO: Trade Representative Mickey Kantor said Japan’s unwillingness to protect U.S. sound recordings produced before 1971 is a breach of the 1993 Uruguay Round trade accord. “We’re deeply concerned that Japan has not implemented regulations or laws that would satisfy their obligations under the Uruguay Round,” Kantor said. “We have asked Japan to do so, they have failed.” Under the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, Japan--like other signature countries--is supposed to protect the copyright on sound recordings for 50 years. Japanese law protects only sound recordings made after 1971. Kantor did not say when the United States would take its case before the World Trade Organization.