Brussels/Tokyo, 02/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Without withdrawing its challenge lodged at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of US measures, Japan has decided to call off its retaliation plan against steel import restrictions imposed by the United States. Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry minister Takeo Hiranuma said: "We positively assess the US government's responses as a realistic and constructive approach based on the reality of the Japan-US steel trade", adding "we understand that about 70% of our exports are now unaffected by the US safeguards". Japan has therefore decided to call off its retaliation plan (already notified to Geneva), deciding (in Hiranuma's words) "not to actually raise tariffs until the WTO dispute-settlement panel reaches a conclusion".