WTO talks on export control between Japan and South Korea To talk again on parallel lines October 12th 4:37
The government of Japan and Korea held bilateral talks based on the WTO = World Trade Organization dispute resolution procedure over Japan's stricter export controls for South Korea. While Japan explained that it was a necessary measure for security, Korea did not give up its claim that it was a violation of the WTO rules, but the two countries decided to discuss again, keeping the parallel lines.
The bilateral talks were held in response to the fact that the Korean government entered into a procedure to file a complaint with the WTO last month in response to the strict export control of three items such as semiconductor raw materials for Korea.
The representatives of both the Japanese and Korean governments attended the consultation held at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and insisted on their positions and ideas for about six hours.
After the discussion, Mr. Soichiro Kuroda, Director of the Trade Organization, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said at the press conference that Japan has tightened export controls. “I explained that we needed to manage exports of three items more appropriately”.
Meanwhile, Jeong Hye Kwang, New Trade Order Coordinator of Korea ’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources, said, “Japan's measures are export restrictions and violate WTO regulations, and must be withdrawn.” Clarified that he did not give up his previous claims.
In this way, both discussions ended in parallel, and the two governments agreed to conduct a second consultation at the request of the Korean side.
However, neither Japanese nor Korean representatives have shown that they have found a clue to solving the problem for the next consultation, and there is no prospect of a compromise between the two countries.