Many economists say Americans are unlikely to notice any of the pocketbook benefits they may anticipate from a trade battle with Japan.

Australia says that in the present fiscal year, it will lose wheat and barley exports worth $675 million because of trade battles across the Atlantic.

Chiquita and Fyffes are very different combatants in the trade battle.

The action fended off a trade battle, at least temporarily.

And, as in past trade battles, they argued that restrictions would only drive Iran into relationships with foreign competitors.

"Maybe it won't be the mother of all trade battles, but we've got a real struggle on our hands," the aide observed.

But a December meeting in Montreal will be a hard-fought prelude to the big trade battle looming.

The subsidies touched off a trade battle between the United States and the European Community.

American steelmakers still have weapons for trade battles.

Some business executives said the trade battle had already led them to rethink their strategies for promoting their agenda in Washington.