WASHINGTON. Oct 9: The United States yesterday expressed growing frustration with Japan's slow progress in deregulating its automotive industry. putting pressure on Tokyo to open its market as the Japanese economy emerges from its worst recession in 50 years, reports Reuters.

While acknowledging that Japan had taken some steps to loosen the red* tape that Washington says is choking the Japanese economy, the United States said the government must move more aggressively to open its auto sector to competition in order to salvage a 1995 US-Japan auto trade agreement.

"There is much that the Japanese government can do to improve market access and the competitive environment in the Japanese market through de-regulatory actions and other market-opening measures," a

US trade official told reporters in a conference call following two-days of auto trade talks with Japan in Vancouver. Canada.

The official called on the Japanese government to "redouble its efforts" as the economy recovers from its worst postwar recession and before the US-Japan auto trade agreement expires at the end of next year.

Specifically, the United States urged Japan to streamline its vehicle registration process, increase transparency and overhaul regulations to boost competition.

US auto makers have long complained that they are denied full access to Japan's car market.'

They had hoped the 1995 trade agreement — reached after the Iwo major economic powers nearly started a trade war — would clear the way for more

car and part sales in Japan.

The accord called on Japan to improve US access to Japanese dealerships, to deregulate the used-parts market and take other steps that would help US auto makers compete in Japan.

While sales of US cars and parts increased immediately following the 1995 pact, the automotive trade deficit with Japan has been on the riscJn recent years and was expected to top $38 billion in 1999.