Government's countermeasures against Japan's export restrictions top debate at interpellation session
- 5 years ago
국회 대정부질문 진행...경제 보복 대응책 두고 공방
Another Q&A session with government officials was held at the national assembly.
Today, the focal point was Japan's restrictions on exports to Seoul.
Opposition lawmakers called for government efforts on all fronts,... while the ruling party stressed the need for parliament to approve financial support.
Our Kim Min-ji has the latest.
On day two of the National Assembly's Q&A session on Wednesday, Japan's restrictions on exports to South Korea was the center of debate.
The opposition bloc claimed that the government's response is not enough,... and asked whether it's stepping up preparations in case Tokyo puts export curbs on more items.
The government said it's doing all it can.
"We can't reveal specifically everything we're doing, but we're working on all fronts. We have brought the issue up at a WTO meeting. What's important right now is securing supplies. On top of that, we're looking to diversify our importers, and in the mid-to-long term stepping up efforts to localize these items. We are also keeping close tabs on other items that could be added to the list."
The ruling party encouraged the government to do everything it can to resolve the issue.
It also stressed the need to allocate a portion of the extra budget to support the government's efforts.
To this, the government said it plans to ask rival lawmakers for their support when the government's extra budget proposal is deliberated.
"Even the opposition have noted the severity of the trade tensions with Japan. And we ask for cooperation from parliament. We will most certainly use next year's budget to resolve this issue,... but we plan to ask for about 100-million dollars as part of the extra budget to start off."
Lawmakers also questioned how the government is planning to breathe life into the ailing economy.
They raised concerns that the economy is heading downhill,... citing negative growth in the first quarter of this year,... and the government's recent downward revision of the growth outlook for 2019.
"We are looking at the situation seriously. Global economic conditions were worse than we expected,... and we've seen a slowdown in investment and exports. But I believe growth will rebound in the second quarter."
Also on the table were the feasibility of the government's energy policies,... as well as how it plans to step up the country's competitiveness in innovation with rival lawmakers sharing their ideas and views.
"The National Assembly will wrap up its Q&A session on Thursday with the last session to focus on the areas of education, culture and social issues. The opposition will likely try to make an impression by pointing out areas where the government isn't doing so well,... while the ruling party is expected to encourage the government or give advice. Kim Min-ji, Arirang News."
Another Q&A session with government officials was held at the national assembly.
Today, the focal point was Japan's restrictions on exports to Seoul.
Opposition lawmakers called for government efforts on all fronts,... while the ruling party stressed the need for parliament to approve financial support.
Our Kim Min-ji has the latest.
On day two of the National Assembly's Q&A session on Wednesday, Japan's restrictions on exports to South Korea was the center of debate.
The opposition bloc claimed that the government's response is not enough,... and asked whether it's stepping up preparations in case Tokyo puts export curbs on more items.
The government said it's doing all it can.
"We can't reveal specifically everything we're doing, but we're working on all fronts. We have brought the issue up at a WTO meeting. What's important right now is securing supplies. On top of that, we're looking to diversify our importers, and in the mid-to-long term stepping up efforts to localize these items. We are also keeping close tabs on other items that could be added to the list."
The ruling party encouraged the government to do everything it can to resolve the issue.
It also stressed the need to allocate a portion of the extra budget to support the government's efforts.
To this, the government said it plans to ask rival lawmakers for their support when the government's extra budget proposal is deliberated.
"Even the opposition have noted the severity of the trade tensions with Japan. And we ask for cooperation from parliament. We will most certainly use next year's budget to resolve this issue,... but we plan to ask for about 100-million dollars as part of the extra budget to start off."
Lawmakers also questioned how the government is planning to breathe life into the ailing economy.
They raised concerns that the economy is heading downhill,... citing negative growth in the first quarter of this year,... and the government's recent downward revision of the growth outlook for 2019.
"We are looking at the situation seriously. Global economic conditions were worse than we expected,... and we've seen a slowdown in investment and exports. But I believe growth will rebound in the second quarter."
Also on the table were the feasibility of the government's energy policies,... as well as how it plans to step up the country's competitiveness in innovation with rival lawmakers sharing their ideas and views.
"The National Assembly will wrap up its Q&A session on Thursday with the last session to focus on the areas of education, culture and social issues. The opposition will likely try to make an impression by pointing out areas where the government isn't doing so well,... while the ruling party is expected to encourage the government or give advice. Kim Min-ji, Arirang News."