Japan-Korea talks are parallel lines.

Japan-Korea talks are parallel lines South Korea decides to take the WTO lawsuit The future focus is November 20, 5:32

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The two governments in opposition to Japan's measures for stricter export controls to South Korea conducted a second bilateral consultation in Switzerland based on the WTO = World Trade Organization dispute resolution procedure. There was no compromise on the claim. The Korean side is discussing the response, including seeking a hearing at the WTO court, and the focus will be on taking the suit.

The bilateral talks were held in response to the fact that the Korean government entered a procedure for appealing to the WTO against the strict export control of three items such as semiconductor raw materials for Korea. This discussion was held at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for about six and a half hours before the dawn on the 20th of Japan time.

At the press conference after the meeting, Mr. Soichiro Kuroda, Director of the Trade Organization of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, representing the Japanese government, argued that the WTO violation was not pointed out for the appropriate management of items that could be diverted to military use. "And made it clear that the previous position was repeated.

In addition, a representative of the Korean government, Chun Hye Kwang, the new trade order coordinator of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources, criticized Japan's measures as “discriminatory trade restrictions”, and there was no compromise on the two sides' claims.

On top of that, Chong Shin-Tong Trade Order Coordinator said, “It is not likely that the third bilateral talks will be held. , The prospect of considering the response of the Korean government, including the appeal to the WTO.

On the other hand, both Japan and South Korea said that Japan-Korea's comprehensive military information protection agreement = “GSOMIA”, which expires on the 23rd of this month, was not mentioned in this talk.

If the WTO rules fail to resolve the issue within 60 days from the request for consultation, you can seek a review by a subcommittee, the court of the WTO.

In this case, 60 days have already passed, and the future focus will be whether the Korean government will proceed with the appeal for the WTO hearing.

The Japanese side "has not walked away"

Mr. Soichiro Kuroda, Director of the Trade Organization of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the representative of the Japanese government, said at the press conference that "the mutual understanding was deepened in the second discussion, but neither Japan nor South Korea changed the conventional claims," ​​and there was no compromise. I made it clear.

After that, “ROK that is requesting discussion will consider how to proceed in the future. Japan will consider if there is a request for the third consultation, and if Korea requests the establishment of a subcommittee, it will respond” It was.

Whether or not there was a discussion about GSOMIA was only described as "It is not the subject of this discussion. It is a problem that is different in dimension and quality from the defense issue."

Korean “Arbitrary and discriminatory trade restrictions”

In the press conference after consultation, Jeong Hye Kwang new trade order coordinator of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources, who represents the Korean government, stated that Japan's measures were “arbitrary and discriminatory trade restrictions” Again criticized the response.

The future procedure is ...

In the future, how will this issue be handled under the WTO dispute resolution process?

According to the WTO regulations, if the agreement cannot be reached within 60 days after the request for bilateral consultation is made, the country requesting the consultation can request the establishment of a “subcommittee” which is the court of the WTO. .

In this case, it has already been more than 60 days since the request for consultation by South Korea, and it has not been resolved between the countries concerned.

If a complaint is filed, the “sub-committee” will review the content of each claim between Japan and Korea and issue a report on the decision. Is required.

If there is an objection to the “sub-committee” decision, both Japan and Korea can appeal to the “high-level committee”, which is the second trial, and each claim will be heard and reported. The