In theory there is a slender economic rationale for protecting the domestic American supercomputer market.

'These companies have either folded, or no longer operate in the supercomputer market'.

But the supercomputer market, long dominated by American brands, is now up for grabs.

Despite their performance advances, the Japanese have been slow to make inroads in the supercomputer market.

Hit simultaneously by the end of the cold war and a global recession, the traditional supercomputer market has been in decline for several years.

Even so, Cray Research still has the largest share of the supercomputer market.

The company said the move reflected its commitment to expanding its role in the growing supercomputer market.

The company is seeking to halt the erosion of its share of the supercomputer market.

Fujitsu officials said the conventional supercomputer market has slowed recently.

Japanese officials have long complained that the American supercomputer market is closed.