	ec could decide on japan  moves in late may the european community ec has effectively given japan six weeks to take moves to open its market to imports before it decides on possible tough retaliatory  measures ec diplomats said they said ec foreign ministers will meet on may and to review the state of  relations between the two sides the ec executive commission was asked by representatives of member states on friday to propose a renunciation of some ec pledges to the world  body gatt unless there are adequate and early measures to open the japanese market such a renunciation would be the first step to imposing stiff increases in duties or quantitative limits on japanese exports the diplomats said it was unlikely that the issue would be discussed in detail at the next meeting of ec foreign ministers on april and in luxembourg as time was needed to prepare proposals for possible retaliatory action they said the commission has powers to take some limited action before getting ministerial approval to prevent japanese exports of electrical photographic and other goods being diverted to europe following of possible u s tariff moves in may the ministers are also likely to discuss how to prevent japan from getting an extra trading advantage as a result of spain and portugal joining the bloc which obliges them gradually to reduce tariffs on many industrial goods japan s  surplus with the community has grown steadily registering a record billion dlrs in march reuter 
