Canada’s Leader Arrives in Japan for Talks

TOKYO — Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney arrived Sunday on a five-day visit aimed at forging closer ties with Asia’s economic superpower.

The visit is aimed at reaffirming close ties and discussing post-Gulf War cooperation and will not center around trade disputes, Japanese officials said.

“Canada represents one trading partner with which Japan has no major disagreements,” a government official said.

Canada and Japan enjoy almost balanced trade.

Japan says two-way trade totalled more than $15 billion in 1990, while Canadian statistics show it at $17.7 billion.

Canada, which exports mostly unfinished raw materials to Japan, is seeking a larger share for its manufactured products and greater access to Japan’s markets.

Canadian officials said Mulroney will raise only one trade dispute, that of Japan’s 8% tariff on imports of Canada’s spruce, pine and fir lumber.

Japan has eliminated tariffs on similar U.S. softwood imports, and Canada is demanding reciprocal treatment.

“Canada took the case to GATT (the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) in 1987 and lost,” a Japanese foreign ministry official said. “We’re now telling them we’ll discuss it at the Uruguay Round.”

GATT is a world body coordinating international trade relations and ruling on trade disputes between countries. The Uruguay Round of farm trade talks is expected to resume in coming months, to take up tariffs and agricultural subsidies.

Mulroney is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of Canada’s new embassy building today.

He will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu on Tuesday. They will discuss bilateral issues, the post-Gulf War situation and the summit of advanced democracies scheduled in London in July. Issues likely to be taken up in London include the need for economic policy coordination, Canadian officials said.

During his visit, the prime minister will meet Emperor Akihito and address Canadian and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo and the western Japan cities of Kyoto and Osaka.

Mulroney will depart for Canada Friday.