	ec warns u s and japan on  tensions the european community ec yesterday warned japan and the united states its main trading partners that friction over  issues is affecting the ec s relations with both countries ec foreign ministers issued a statement deploring japan s continued  imbalance and appealed for the country to make a greater effort to open up its markets they also said they were disturbed by a draft bill before the u s congress that would impose permanent quotas on textile imports and were prepared to react the u s administration has already distanced itself from the bill ec external  commissioner willy de clercq has written to his u s counterpart  representative clayton yeutter outlining the ec s concerns the statement said ministers were very disturbed by u s moves towards protectionism the adoption of such measures would not fail to have a negative effect on the process of multilateral negotiations just started as well as on bilateral relations it said any unilateral u s moves would leave the ec no option but to react according to the laws of the general agreement on tariffs and  it said in a separate statement on japan the ec ministers said they deplore the continued aggravation of the imbalance in  and expect japan to open up its market more the statement said the ec would continue to insist that japan boost imports and stimulate domestic demand ministers also called on the ec commission to prepare a report on u s japanese  for july this year to enable them to take appropriate action where necessary one diplomat said the call for a report showed ministers were determined not to let the japanese question drop it will be back on the table again and again the diplomat said de clercq talking to journalists during the meeting said there is a certain nervousness a growing impatience within the community concerning  relations with japan but diplomats said the ec is keen to negotiate with tokyo to solve the problem rather than embark on a costly and damaging  war and the ministers called for more cooperation with japan in industry and research reuter 
