Europe to Japanese: Curb your exports

February 19, 1981

A European Parliament delegation bluntly warned the Japanese to restrain their booming exports to Western Europe or face the consequences. Britain's Sir Fred Warner, chief of the 17-member delegation, said after talks with Japanese parliamentarians that without urgent action, Western European public opinion would demand strong measures to safeguard industry at a time of high unemployment.

The warning came as Foreign Ministry officials said Japan would ask the European Community to pledge that Japanese goods will continue to flow freely into Western Europe despite the decision by EC foreig n ministers to monitor certain Japanese imports.