WASHINGTON — Toyota's top executive is expected to visit the United States in early March amid pressure from a House Republican that the company's leader testify before Congress about the automaker's safety lapses.

Toyota confirmed Thursday that Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president and the grandson of the company's founder, was expected make the visit to meet with government officials and members of Congress but said his schedule was still under discussion. The executive had previously said he intended to travel to America to meet Toyota workers and dealers in the aftermath of a global recall.

Oil prices sunk below $74 a barrel today as the dollar strengthened and investors awaited a weekly crude supply report that could reflect sluggish U.S. demand.By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for March delivery was down $1.50 at $73.78 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.With U.S. financial markets to be closed Monday for a holiday, analysts said the dollar's exchange rate and global stock markets would likely steer oil prices today.