JAPAN SAYS IT TRYING TO EXPAND DOMESTIC DEMAND
Japan has assured a meeting
of trade ministers it is making every effort to expand domestic
demand and restructure its economy.
    Japanese trade representative Tsomu Hata told an informal
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) meeting that, in
addition to demand boosting measures adopted last September, a
comprehensive economic program will be prepared after the
1987/88 budget is approved.
    Hata, speaking at the first session of the two-day meeting,
said agriculture is no exception to the goal of restructuring
the economy, but did not elaborate.
    Hata said protectionist pressures in the international
economy are as strong as ever, reflecting financial deficits,
payment imbalances and serious unemployment in many countries.
    Despite great potential, developing economies are still
confronted by grave difficulties, particularly debt, he added.
    The basis for the talks is the GATT ministerial declaration
last September in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and the subsequent
trade negotiating plan agreed in Geneva.
    "It is essential that we first reaffirm here our commitment
to implementing that plan as scheduled," Hata said.
    Hata added it is not constructive to speed up negotiations
in some areas at the expense of others.
    In order to rebuild the free trade system, it is important
for each participant to have domestic policies that will serve
this end.
    As part of its contribution, Japan plans in April to
fundamentally improve its generalised system of preferences for
industrial and mining products to make Japan's domestic market
more open to developing countries, he said.
 REUTER
