As Japan Trade Surplus Rises, Clinton Plans for Added Clout

WASHINGTON — Hot on the heels of a sanctions threat against Japan, aides said Wednesday that President Clinton plans to add a sharp new weapon to his economic arsenal in coming days.

At the same time, Japan’s Ministry of Finance reported that the nation’s trade surplus, the flash point for the rising tensions between the countries, rose sharply again in January over the same month a year earlier.

The trade provision that Clinton aides spoke of--known as Super 301--is widely loathed overseas and could lead to more sanctions scraps with Tokyo just as the two sides try to navigate their way around a head-on trade clash and find calmer commercial waters.

By renewing the dreaded unilateral tool, Clinton could name countries that he deems unfair traders and demand progress in specific sectors by a certain date under threat of sanctions.

The measure lapsed under the George Bush Administration. Congressional aides said it could be renewed as early as today by executive order. However, a White House official said the move will not come until next week.

According to the Finance Ministry’s preliminary figures, Japan exported $6.1 billion worth of goods more than it imported in January, up 17% from a $5.2-billion surplus in January, 1993.

Japan’s surplus with the United States alone jumped 7% to $3.1 billion in January from a revised, but not final, $2.9 billion in January, 1993.