	japan concerned at ec  threats minister japan is disappointed at the recent threats of  retaliation from the european community ec just as the  situation between the two is improving japanese  and industry minister hajime tamura said i am deeply concerned that the ec has moved to take a harsher line toward japan despite this tangible improvement he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the opening of a new centre designed to improve understanding between the two sides last week foreign ministers of the ec nations agreed to impose tariffs on a range of unspecified japanese electrical goods unless tokyo opened its markets more to ec exports tamura referred to a pct rise in japanese imports of ec manufactured goods in the year ended march i feel this is a strong step on the road to balance through expansion while i do not deny the existence of the  deficit between japan and the ec i believe it should be rectified not by reducing  through import restrictions or export restraints but by expanding the overall  tamura said reuter 
