U.S. STEPS UP PRESSURE ON JAPAN

U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor met again with Japanese Trade Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in a final effort to resolve adispute over the car and auto parts trade. The U.S. wants Japan to open its market to American automakers, but so far the talks, set to end today, have been fruitless. President Clinton says he will impose punitive tariffs on Japanese products if an agreement cannot be worked out. At issue is the Japanese refusal to extend the 1992 pact that called for Japanese automakers to commit to purchasing more American-made parts. Nearly 60 percent of America's record $66 billion trade deficit with Japan is in autos and auto parts.