	britain warns japan over  row british corporate affairs minister michael howard told japan to resolve the row over the u k firm cable and wireless plc s cawl l shareholding in a new japanese telecommunications company or face an abrupt deterioration in  relations in meetings with both the foreign and telecommunications ministers howard said he expressed deep concern about the way tokyo had handled the dispute and about the continuing  imbalance between the two countries i put it to the post and telecommunications minister that i was sure he did not want to be responsible for an abrupt deterioration in the trading relations of our countries which would have widespread reverberations elsewhere in the world howard told reporters he listened very carefully and i have little doubt the message got home he added british frustration over the lopsided  balance nearly six billion dlrs in japan s favour last year has reached boiling point over the telecommunications issue howard said howard has accused japan of trying to shut out cable and wireless from having a major role in the international telephone market in japan i want a fair crack of the whip for cable and wireless as i want a fair crack of the whip for britain generally in trading relations howard said we simply aren t prepared to continue to accept the imbalance which has been the position for such a long time post and telecommunications ministry officials were unable to comment on howard s meeting with their minister but foreign ministry officials said foreign minister tadashi kuranari said that british exports to japan are increasing but acknowledged the continuing imbalance in  kuranari said he wants everyone in the telecommunications dispute including cable and wireless to be satisfied howard told reporters that britain was actively considering possible retaliatory measures if it did not get its way on the telecommunications issue there are measures which are under consideration if we continue to suffer from the imbalance in our trading relations he added but gave no details he said he had received a reassuring response from the japanese he has spoken with but of course we ve had reassuring signs from the japanese for quite some time he added what i ve made plain is we expect to see action howard ruled out using powers in britain s financial services bill to retaliate against unfair  practices those powers which allow london to ban foreign financial firms like banks from britain are designed to ensure u k firms equal access to overseas financial markets reuter 
