The United States vowed Tuesday to rub out "pockets of resistance" to freer world trade as it issued an annual report identifying new tactics to block US exports.

The global trade assessment listed the barriers erected against US exporters in 55 countries, ranging from Canada to the European Union, Japan and China.

Less than a month after US President George W. Bush imposed steep protective tariffs on US steel imports, the report turned the spotlight instead on foreign protective measures.

"There is no denying the global trend towards freer trade," a US trade official said after the release of the 2002 National Trade Estimate on Foreign Trade Barriers.

"This ... review should serve as a guide to root out these pockets of resistance using appropriate meth-

ods of negotiation, consultation and if necessary litigation," said the official, who declined to be identified.

The report highlighted a trend towards the use of nontariff barriers such as health standards that lacked any scientific basis, customs procedures, government monopolies and opaque regulations.

"By identifying barriers to trade, we can work with our trade partners globally, regionally and bilaterally to eliminate these barriers while further liberalizing our market at home," US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said in a statement.

Among the starkest examples of trade obstruction were the European Union's 10-year ban on US beef, Japanese restrictions on US apples for fear of fire blight infection, and opaque South Korean rules on drug imports.

Biotechnology and other health barriers were noted in US trade with

the European Union.

"Among these barriers are unjustified bans on US beef from livestock treated with hormones and US poultry treated to minimize bacterial risks," Zoellick said in a statement.

"The EU ban on US beef has continued for more than 10 years despite a WTO ruling that the ban is inconsistent with multilateral trade rules," it added. Other major barriers included government support to the aircraft industry and widely differing European standards and rules.

Japan was taken to task over its red tape.

"Structural rigidity, excessive regulation and market access barriers continue to limit opportunities for US companies trading with and operating in Japan," Zoellick said.

Japan's 130-billion-dollar telecommunications industry, for example, was "stifled" by high connection rates.