Tokyo, 08/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The deputy Japanese trade minister Katsusada Hirose, said in Tokyo on Monday that later this week Japan would be discussing with the European Union the safeguard measures imposed by Brussels last Thursday (see EUROPE of 4 April, p.11) to counteract surcharges imposed by the United States on steel imports. Tokyo is concerned that the counter measures adopted by the European Commission on 27 March (see EUROPE of 25/26 March, p.10) might have a domino effect among major steel producers.
Mr Hirose told reporters that discussions over the EU decision to take safeguard measures would be taking place on 10 April, without indicating where. Tokyo has not ruled out taking appropriate measures against the EU under WTO rules, depending on the outcome of the discussions this week and the impact of the EU restrictions on the Japanese economy. Tokyo and Brussels are, however, standing side by side against the US levies on certain products. Katsusada Hirose said that Japan, the EU, South Korea and maybe China would be meeting in Geneva on 11 April to discuss the US measures.