Tough U.S. sanctions over Japan's whaling program would stress relations between the countries, but Tokyo remains open to dialogue on the issue, officials said Friday. President Clinton must decide Monday whether Washington will limit sanctions to denying Japan the right to fish in U.S. waters, or impose stiffer penalties. The dispute was expected to be discussed when Clinton meets Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Brunei next week.
Japan is always ready to talk.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested additional sanctions could have a negative impact on U.S.-Japan ties. If the United States decides to impose such measures, Japan will seek to resolve the matter under international trade rules, he said. Japan has not decided what steps to take if Washington goes ahead with new sanctions, he said. There has been speculation that Japan may hit back with a ban on U.S. agricultural imports. Tokyo defends its whale hunt as scientific research allowed by the International Whaling Commission.