South Korea reopens tech trade case against Japan
Print Edition
South Korea yesterday said it will recommence proceedings against Japan at the World Trade Organization over its tightened controls on technology exports to its companies, blaming Tokyo for an alleged lack of commitment in resolving mutual grievances.
South Korea had halted its WTO action in November when it decided to keep a military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan it previously threatened to end over conflicts stemming from wartime history and trade, after months of pressure by the Trump administration.
Japan in return agreed to resume talks on settling a bilateral trade dispute, which was triggered by its move in July into strengthen export controls on key chemicals South Korean companies used to make computer chips and displays.
But Na Seung-sik, an official from South Korea鈥檚 trade ministry, said there has been no progress since then because of what he described as Japan鈥檚 lack of willingness to settle the dispute.
He said South Korea will request a WTO panel ruling over the issue and that the process will likely take more than a year.
When imposing tighter controls over the three chemicals, Japan had cited unspecified security concerns over South Korea鈥檚 export controls on sensitive materials that could be used for military purposes. But Na said there has been no known security problem related to the chemicals or products that involved them in the past 11 months.
鈥淥ur government in the past six months sincerely engaged in dialogue and provided thorough and sufficient explanations so that the Japanese side could understand South Korea鈥檚 export controls are functioning normally and effectively,鈥 Na said in a briefing.
鈥淥ur thinking is that the process of bilateral consultations is over, and the next step would be for us to request the WTO to set up a dispute settlement panel.鈥
Japan鈥檚 Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed regret over South Korea鈥檚 move and said there was no change to Tokyo鈥檚 position that Seoul should improve its export controls.
鈥淚t was regrettable that the South Korean side unilaterally made the announcement even though we have maintained dialogues,鈥 he told reporters.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
