TOKYO. Apr 29: More Americans blame Japan for the swelling trade imbalance between the two countries, according to a poll released here Friday, reports AP.

The Foreign Ministry said the poll was conducted by the GaDup Organisation Inc. among 1.508 US citizens and 375 US "Opinion Inders' between February 18 through March 18. It didn't say how the opinion leaders were selected.

Among the respondents, surveyed by telephone. 62 per cent of both the general public and the opinion leaders said they think Japan is to blame for Its dlrs 59 billion annual trade surplus with the United States.

Also more Americans see Japan as an undependable ally, though more American opinion leaders regard Japan as important to the United States and to the security of he Far East, the poll found.

Among the general public. 43 per cent said Japan Is not a dependable ally or a friend of (he United States, up from 40 per cent last year. The proportion for the same category among opinion leaders was 15 P" cent up from 14 per cent