41.   -- Ruling coalition to drop numerical target for trade surplus cut in economic package.

42.   But it seemed that Japan was still balking at the numerical targets demanded by Washington as a way of measuring progress in opening the market.

43.   But the actual agreement contains no specific numerical targets, something the Japanese government had strongly resisted as going against the principles of free trade.

44.   But the actual agreement contains no specific numerical targets, something the Japanese government had strongly resisted.

45.   Hashimoto said Washington had backed down on earlier demands that the Japanese government commit itself to specific numerical purchasing targets for American spare parts.

46.   He said the United States was still sticking to its demands for numerical targets to boost U.S. sale of autos and auto parts to Japan.

47.   In an apparent effort to avoid looking like a failure, Saturn has refused to set a numerical target for Japanese sales.

48.   In exchange, the reports said, the United States softened its stance on numerical sales targets.

49.   In May the Union threatened to take both Americans and Japanese to the WTO if Tokyo agrees to U.S. demands to set numerical targets on imports of American cars.

50.   In May the EU threatened to take both Americans and Japanese to the WTO if Tokyo agrees to U.S. demands to set numerical targets on imports of American cars.