Strengthen export control to South Korea Request to review measures for Japan Deadline

Strengthen export control to South Korea Request for review of measures to Japan Deadline for May 31, 4:13

With the Japanese government tightening export control to South Korea since last year, the Korean government is calling on Japan to clarify its position for reviewing the measures by 31st. The Korean media reported that there is a possibility that if the Japanese government fails to draw out a positive attitude, it may proceed with the procedure of the WTO complaint against the World Trade Organization.

The Japanese government stricted export control of three items such as semiconductor raw materials to South Korea in July last year, saying that the South Korean side's trade control system was insufficient. South Korea has been excluded from the target countries.

In this regard, Korea's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industry has revised the trade control law to be enforced next month, and established a new post of "Trade Security Policy Officer". Claims to have taken it.

On top of that, we are calling on the Japanese government to clarify its concrete position by 31st, in order to review measures to tighten export controls.

In November last year, the Korean government maintained the Japan-Korea Military Information Comprehensive Protection Agreement (GSOMIA) and suspended the WTO complaint procedure in preparation for progress in discussions with the Japanese government regarding export control. Within the party, people are complaining that they haven't had any outstanding results even after half a year.

For this reason, the Korean media have reported that if the Japanese government cannot draw out a positive attitude, it may proceed with the WTO complaint procedure again.

Japanese Government "Some progress has been seen"

The Japanese government appreciates that some progress can be seen in the fact that the Korean side is working to strengthen its trade control system, such as amending the law.

However, regarding the review of the measures required by the South Korean side, it is necessary to confirm whether South Korea's trade control is operating effectively, and it is not decided in advance to divide the deadline.

The Japanese government says that it conveys this idea to the Korean side through policy dialogues at the director level.

In July of last year, Japan tightened the export control of three items such as semiconductor raw materials for South Korea, but if it is confirmed that they will not be used for military purposes, it will promptly give permission.

Since then, regarding the “resist” out of the three items, we have partially reviewed the operation in December of last year to simplify the export procedure between specific companies, assuming that we have accumulated a proper export record.

Recent movements on Japan-Korea relations

The relationship between Japan and South Korea has been deteriorating since the Supreme Court of South Korea issued a judgment in October ordering Japanese companies to compensate for the problem of “commissioning” during the Pacific War.

The Japanese government demands the Korean government to rectify the state of violation of international law, saying that the problem concerning "exemption" has been resolved under the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement of 1965. On the other hand, the Moon Jae-in administration has shown an attitude of respecting judicial decisions based on the principle of separation of powers.

After that, in July last year, the Japanese government tightened export control to South Korea for three items, including semiconductor raw materials, because of the security concerns that the South Korean side lacked in its trade control system. In addition, South Korea has been excluded as a target country for preferential treatment to simplify export procedures.

In response to this, the Korean government indicated that it would take remedies as retaliation for the issue of “commissioning”, and in August last year, it announced that it would abolish the military information comprehensive protection agreement with Japan, GSOMIA, and in September. Has entered into a procedure to bring the WTO to the World Trade Organization for measures to tighten export controls.

Then, in November last year when the expiration of GSOMIA was imminent, the Korean government decided to turn over and decide to maintain GSOMIA, and announced that it would suspend the WTO complaint procedure while the dialogue between the two governments is proceeding normally. did. However, the Korean side insisted that these were provisional measures, and called on the Japanese government to withdraw measures that tightened export controls.

In December of last year, a policy dialogue was held for the first time in three and a half years between the two governments of Japan and South Korea over trade control, and in March this year, too, a TV conference system was used to connect Tokyo and Seoul. -Level policy dialogue was held.

After that, the Korean government will take necessary measures to strengthen the trade control system on the 12th of this month, and will announce to the Japanese government its concrete position toward a review of the Japanese measures by the end of this month. I was asking.