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GATT accord unlikely by Easter deadline

EC slates Japanese statement
TOKYO, Apr 18 : GATT ne gotlators are unlikely to reach agreement by this weekend's Easter deadline but Tokyo's recent criticism of the United States and the European Community has drawn fresh at tentfon to the world trade reform talks, reports Reuter
Japanese Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe wrote to Washington and Brussels last week, urging quick action In the stalled General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations over Industrial and services trade Issues
These letters definitely gave a fresh kick to the two major negotiators," a senior. Japanese government official said on Friday." But I don't know so far whether these letters will benefit Japan In the proress of the trade negolM lions." In January. GATT Director General Arthur Dunkel set the Easter deadline for conclusion of the current Uruguay Round of trade talks.
Thursday's press reports on the letters triggered a qutek counter-attack from the EC.'
"The European Commission is surprised by the criticism from Japan suggesting that the Community Is responsible for the current deadlock in the GATT negotiations." the EC Executive Commission said in an unusually strong statement.
That statement was mis leading. Tokyo officials said. The Japanese minister only said that early conciuslofi of the Uruguay Round was itnpor tanl. they said
"These letters were not blaming the EC or the US but showing Japan s deep con cerna on what they have to ac-complish." another sentor gov eminent official said.
The United States and EC are widely seen as holding the key to compromise In the enr rent round of GATT talks, due to have ended 18 months ago
A disagreement between the two over farm subsidies is considered the single greatest obstacle to conclusion of the negotiations.
The letters said little about farm issues, and focused on Japanese concerns on other issues stalled by the two.
In bls letters to the EC and the United States. Watanabe said the two should Iminedi ately submit lists of tariff re ductions on industrial goods to the GATT and asked them to revise their position on liberal Isation of trade In services
Although Watanabe has not yet received responses from US trade representative Carla Hills or EC Commission Vice-President Frans Andrlessen, government officials say Japan will HF told their direct replies "Tokyo mil likely be told that Washington and Brussels arc nol ready to open their services and industrial goods markets to nations that keep their own markets closed to foreign good*
The EC and the United Slates haw criticised Japan s reluctance to open 11s rice market as an obstacle io completing a new CATT agree mcnl . ,
Japan seems to haw taken a ftn'1Japan is sharing with other negotiators the frustrations that the progress of negotiations between the EC and the US Is very stow." a third gov rrnmcnl offirial said