However, a large number of market access barriers remain, notably due to regulatory obstacles to trade. Difficulties of market access in Japan are reflected in part in Japan's persistently high external trade and current account surpluses. Japan's current account surplus reached 3.3% of GDP in 1998 and is forecast to reach 3.5 % in 1999. In 1998, Japan's trade surplus against the EU has increased more rapidly than against any other major trading partner.
L'excédent des paiements courants a atteint 3,3 % du PIB japonais en 1998 et devrait se situer à 3,5 % en 1999. En 1998, l'excédent commercial japonais vis-à-vis de l'Union européenne a augmenté plus rapidement que vis-à-vis de tous les autres grands partenaires commerciaux du Japon.