US sanctions against Japan over whaling

The United States is expected to decide today Monday whether to impose trade sanctions against Japan because it is increasing its hunting of whales.

Washington objects to the killing of Brydes and sperm whales, which are protected under US law.

Tokyo says its increased hunting is part of a research programme to find the reason for a decline in stocks in Japanese waters since the imposition of an international whaling moratorium.

An advisor for the Japan Whaling Association, Shigeko Misaki, told the BBC that the research wasn't an excuse to hunt more whales.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service