31.   While the United States and Japan have reached a settlement in the auto trade dispute, economists are still fiercely debating how protectionist Japan is.

32.   Pushing themselves to the brink of a trade war, top American and Japanese trade officials talked into the night Tuesday but reported no progress in their auto dispute.

33.   -- The U.S. State Department hopes the auto trade dispute with Japan will be resolved for the sake of bilateral security and other ties, a department official said.

34.   -- U.S. unveils sanctions against Japan over auto trade dispute, to file complaint with WTO.

35.   Auto stocks were higher on reports that the United States and Japan might reach a compromise in their auto trade dispute.

36.   Both officials stressed that the next two days would be critical in determining whether the auto dispute can be brought to a successful resolution.

37.   But Japanese officials voiced reluctance to deal with the auto dispute here.

38.   Civic groups, already angered by a separate auto trade dispute, are calling for a general boycott on U.S. goods.

39.   European leaders expressed displeasure with Clinton about his auto trade dispute with Japan, suggesting instead that it be dealt with through the newly created World Trade Organization.

40.   Following an agreement in the auto dispute, several senior U.S. officials have visited Tokyo and made statements seeking to smooth relations between the nations.