Gingrich, in Japan, Urges Competition

TOKYO — House Speaker Newt Gingrich urged the Japanese on Monday to open their markets wider to foreigners, telling business leaders that increased competition is in the best interests of both Japan and the U.S.

The Georgia Republican made his plea to heads of industry who included the chairmen of Mitsubishi Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., a spokesman for the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations said.

The speaker’s trip to Tokyo--the latest stop on his Asian tour--came as Japanese dockworkers started nighttime strikes to protest American pressure to change dock practices that the U.S. says hinder competition.

Japan’s stevedore companies require shippers to negotiate with them before making any changes in their operations. The U.S. says that drives up the cost of bringing cargo into and out of Japan.

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto reportedly asked for Gingrich’s help in averting U.S. sanctions in the dispute. Officials refused to confirm or deny that.

Security issues dominated Gingrich’s talks with Hashimoto.