INTERNATIONAL

Japan Announces Market Study: The country will commission its first such effort to determine how closed its markets are to imports compared to counterparts in Europe and the United States, a trade ministry official said. Nine economists and legal scholars from Japan, Europe, Israel and the United States will begin comparing industries late this month, with the hope that results will be ready by next spring. Japan’s trade partners complain that the country’s economy restricts imports and outside investment. Hiroaki Niihara, chief deputy director of the ministry’s import division, said the survey will start with five key industries: housing, medical equipment, cosmetics, processed food and chemicals.