The U.S. And Japan

The persian gulf war increased tensions between the United States and Japan. U.S. officials were unhappy with Japan's slow response to U.S. entreaties for financial support for Operation Desert Storm and its decision not to send any personnel. The dissatisfaction with Japan's role in the war is only the latest irritant in relations between the two nations. Underlying most of the tensions is Japan's huge trade surplus with the United States. Many Americans believe the trade imbalance is the result of unfair trade practices by the Japanese. U.S. critics also say Japan isn't carrying its fair share of the defense burden. Japanese officials, meanwhile, say U.S. companies aren't trying hard enough to sell in Japanese markets. And many Japanese are questioning how much Japan should be giving in to the United States.