TOKYO, Sept 8: Japanese and US negotiators meet In Washington Thursday to begin tough talks on how the achieve and measure progress In reducing their huge trade Imbalance, reports AP.

US officials have threatened to Impose benchmarks of their own If the two countries fall to agree on mutual numerical targets

The talks come as Japan's fragile economy appears headed back into recession. Japanese exporters have been battered by the high yen. which makes their products more expensive overseas. while consumer spending has stalled.

Meanwhile, frustration Is growing in Washington over Japan s annual 50 billion dollar surplus in trade with the United States

Faced with criticism of tts handling of the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement, (NAFTA) the Clinton administration hopes to deliver tangible success In trade with Japan.

On Tuesday, Treasury Deputy Secretary Lawrence Summers said the United States expects "real progress" in opening Japanese markets and In reducing Japan's surplus.

Japan and the United States agreed tn July on a framework for trade negotiations, to be complete-i by the end of this year, which would create "objective criteria" for measuring progress In opening specific areas of Japan's market

But the two countries immediately disagreed over what each meant by the phrase. "

US officials are pressing Japan to accept numerical goals for reducing the trade Imbalance. Tokyo has repeatedly rejected such targets as "managed

trade" and sought to highlight . areas of global cooperation.

rather than bilateral friction.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Terusukc Terada said Tuesday that Thursday's talks should emphasize cooperation In technology, the environment, tekxnmmunlcations, population and fighting AIDS because those areas promise a "brilliant future for our relationship.'

While the government of former President George Bush tried to eliminate structural causes of the US-Japan trade Irnbalante — which dipped and then swelled during its term — the Clinton administration has emphasized measurable results.

Japan, meanwhile, has urged the United States to improve Its International competitiveness.

Under the trade framework objective criteria must be set for Improve American access in autos and auto parts, computers^ satellites, telecommunications, medical equipment, financial services and insurance.

US officials are particularly Interested in supercomputers. Japanese government agencies and research Institutes are expected to procure 11 more supercomputers this year, and US officials are unhappy that four earlier blds were won by Japanese companies.

The United States also wants Japan to slash Its Worldwide, surplus in half within three years and boost purchases of imports by one-third.

Japanese officials say that's impossible given Japan's current economic woes.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan also warned Tuesday that Japan's weak economy could stall sales of US products here.