U.S. Trade Report Singles Out Japan, EU, China for Criticism

Japan, the European Union and China were singled out Monday by the Clinton administration for the largest share of criticism among countries accused of erecting unfair barriers to U.S. exports.

The U.S. government’s 12th annual report on foreign trade barriers covers alleged misdeeds by 46 countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, and four trading groups.

“While many barriers to U.S. exports have been reduced, we continue to face challenges,” U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said. “We will not allow our trading partners to take advantage of our open market while maintaining closed markets at home.”

The report puts nations on notice about areas where the administration is unhappy with their trading practices. But far fewer countries will actually become targets of possible U.S. trade sanctions. No country was removed from the list this year, and four--Ecuador, Ethiopia, Panama and Paraguay--were added.

From this broad report covering objectionable trade practices, the administration has 30 days to select a smaller list of countries that would be cited for failing to protect U.S. copyrights and patents.

In addition the administration faces a Sept. 30 deadline in which it can target a handful of countries under its “Super 301” authority that allows it to single out the trade barriers that are most harmful to U.S. industry.

Barshefsky, in discussing the Japanese problems highlighted in this year’s report, singled out protection of copyrights on computer software to opening up the country’s giant telecommunications market to greater access by U.S. telecom companies.

On China, Barshefsky said U.S. companies and farmers still face numerous barriers trying to get into that country’s huge market. On the EU, she said she is “particularly concerned by the [its] pervasive discrimination against U.S. agriculture exports.”