TRADE

U.S. Sues Japanese Construction Firms: It accused the group of companies of jacking up prices on construction projects at a U.S. naval base through bid rigging. The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo District Court, seeks $5.4 million in damages. The court said the suit targets 53 construction companies that bid on a total of 77 projects at the Atsugi Naval Air Facility near Tokyo between 1983 and 1990. The United States has charged that the firms engaged in dango , or bid-rigging discussions, a common practice in Japan’s construction industry. In recent years, the United States has targeted construction industry corruption in its trade talks with Japan.