European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 29, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13 commentary Tom Rau How hard will . Pressure Japan on Trade just As president Bush seeks to use his War Success to negotiate a broader Middle East peace his new International prestige could help him pressure l Japan to Settle nagging economic disputes. When he meets in California next week with japanese prime minister to Shiki Kaifu Bush will push to ease a Vari Etc of irritants with Tokyo according to administration officials familiar with Trade issues. But winning a breakthrough in contentious Japan-. Trade relations May be As difficult As finding the key to a lasting Middle East peace. The Bush Kaifu meeting next thursday comes As Many members of Congress remain upset about japanese economic policies. Also the administration is pushing Japan to meet its full $9 billion pledge to the Allied War Effort. Firmness in dealing with Tokyo could help the president combat democratic criticism Over administration Trade policies and the High .-japanese Trade deficit. With the Allied Victory in the persian Gulf War Bush brings More bargaining clout it to the session with Kaifu than he had when the two met last october at the United nations. Still the administration is careful not to build up expectations for the meeting. Presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwa Ter said Bush and Kaifu will discuss a trek Evant economic and Trade issues at the meeting in California As Well As the Gulf crisis and its aftermath. A a we have Trade problems that obviously will be discussed a he added. The White House already has made it Clear that Bush wont seek to pressure Kaifu to restrict japanese Auto exports a despite urging from Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca a on grounds that it would be protectionist. But officials speaking on condition of anonymity said Bush is expected to press Kaifu hard on other issues a particularly Japan a restrictive agricultural policies. The administration is still smarting from Tokyo a refusal to help . Negotiators press for european support to Ehase out agricultural subsidies during december a Trade talks in Brussels. The deadlock torpedoed efforts for new liberalized trading rules under the general agreement on tariffs and Trade. Japan a refusal earlier this month to allow a display of american grown Rice at Quot we re number one a Trade show prompted a Sharp rebuke from agriculture Secretary Edward mad Igan who called it a Quot serious affront to .  Law bans imports of foreign made Rice. Also expected to be raised by Bush Are disputes with Japan on computer chips and the awarding of Public works contracts administration sources said. A i think president Bush a increased global prestige offers a marvelous Opportunity to re examine fundamental differences in the economic and Trade relation ship Between the United states and Japan a said Jerry Jasinowski president of the National association of manufacturers. However just How hard Bush presses Kaifu to act to Case the Trade deficit with Japan a $41 billion last year a is an open question. The presidents style in dealing with world leaders has never been confrontational and some of his most notable foreign policy successes have come through intricate consensus building. A Clyde Prestowitz the Commerce departments Point Man on japanese Trade. Disputes during former president Reagan a first term said Bush May try to use his enhanced prestige to win new Trade concessions from Japan a but he doubts it will do much Good. A it will probably be the same old stuff about them having to open their markets a said Prestowitz now president of the economic strategy Institute a nonprofit research organization. He said Kaifus visit comes principally Quot because he a chagrined that the japanese Are seen by us As not performing very Well in the Gulf and not because he plans to give the United states Trade concessions. Last week Bush met with the chairmen of the big three automakers to discuss the hard times plaguing their Industry. The executives told the president that the recession was being aggravated by Competition from japanese imports. Bush listened to their assertions that Japan was increasing its share of the . Auto Market but made no commitments Fitzwater said. Support for Auto Trade restraints would Fly in the face of . Protests against Japan a protectionist policies on Rice. Still Fitzwater said Quot the Auto Industry is going through some Tough  Tom Raum covers the White House Tor the associated  Rowan Bush must use popularity to fix America s ills Washington is caught up in rumours and speculations about How president Bush will use the Powers flowing from his new 91 percent popularity rating. A a a a the wildest scenario has Bush teaming with persian Gulf War hero Colin Powell to alter profoundly the political party system in America. The scenario is that Bush will dump Dan Quayle As his 1992 running mate in favor of Powell the Black general who is chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and who has played such a major role in defeating Iraq s Saddam Hussein. Quot that would break the democrats lock on the Black vote and lure so it Many minorities to the  that the republicans could guarantee themselves control of the White House for another 50 years a i was told by one advocate of a Bush Powell ticket. A its a silly scenario in my View. First i done to think Bush will dump Quayle which would be an admission that he made a big mistake in choosing him in 1988. Second i done to believe that Bush or any of the Republican honchos who have played so shrewdly the politics of race Nixon a Quot White backlash a Reagan a Quot welfare Queens a Bush so Willie Horton have suddenly decided that the country is now ready for a Black vice president. The Palace guard will be Quick to warn Bush that As soon As White voters sober up from their persian pull High  see again the color of Powell a skin. And Bush a popularity will never Render them Colo Blind. A More plausible theory is that Bush can use his extraordinary popularity to get his gop to join the democrats in financing the programs needed to provide education jobs decent Homes to millions of americans a and in the process fight crime drug abuse and the terrible other indicators of social sickness in America. Bush Points up a tragic truth when he notes that More people were murdered in some of our cities last year than the total number of deaths in the Gulf War. What the president did no to say is that our ghastly homicide rates flow out of educational and family failures plus Federal policies that Are still mired m racial discrimination class hostilities and the politics of greed. Look at unemployment figures that show Whites a a suffering at 5.5 percent Blacks in a chronic depression at 12.1 percent 35.4 percent of Black teen agers unable to find work 15.8 percent joblessness for White teens and Overall hispanic joblessness at 9.3 percent. Unless Bush throws his weight behind programs that provide for broader economic opportunities for those imprisoned in the american underclass he will have to rely on the popular but tragic Justice department notion that by putting More of the underclass into More Stone walled prisons he can solve americans crime problem. This very popular president in t going to have much trouble getting the Congress to approve a a a supplemental spending Bill of $43 billion to fund the Gulf War including $650 million for Israel to pay for scud missile damage the costs of War readiness and lost tourism. What will Bush demand for the american cities that have for so Long been a War zones a bereft of tourism and Are now economic disaster areas we now know that Bush is a Tough Hombre overseas. It could be fun to watch him brandish his new Powers against americans internal enemies. C Norih America Syndicate. Inc. A