JAPAN

Trade Initiatives Unveiled: Japan unwrapped its latest market-opening initiatives Friday for U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills, making her first visit to Tokyo in two years. The initiatives, which range from largely symbolic gestures to more substantive measures, are aimed at helping foreign investors crack the Japanese market. One initiative would make it easier for foreign firms to win government contracts by requiring English explanations for the bids, extending the bidding period from 40 to 50 days and lowering the minimum bid.