S. Korea's deputy trade minister slams Japan's export curbs, calls for dialogue
- 5 years ago
정부, WTO서 日에 대화 제안... '수출규제' 품목 통관 안 된듯
At a highly charged meeting of the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, South Korea slammed Japan's exports curbs and directly called on Tokyo to start dialogue.
Japan, however, did not answer.
Our Choi Si-young reports.
South Korea's deputy trade minister Kim Seung-ho explained how Japan's export curbs are a direct violation of the global trade rules and amount to "diplomatic retaliation," and he urged Japan to start "high-level talks."
"Japan's ambassador evaded to give us a concrete answer. So I asked again to respond to my proposed offer but he flatly turned it down without giving me any plausible reasons."
Kim didn't single out which specific provisions of the WTO rules Japan is violating but said Tokyo's restrictions do not serve what Japan is claiming are "national security" interests. Rather, he said, they will only hurt other countries and individual consumers.
By not disclosing too much information, Kim's strategy seemed to take into account the possibility of Seoul suing Tokyo at the WTO,... in which saying too much could give Japan the upper hand.
Other WTO member states, including the U.S.,... did not express an opinion on the matter publicly.
Some had thought the semiconductor materials subject to the ban might have been shipping from Japan anyway, but industry insiders say they have not been arriving at South Korean customs.
Some experts in South Korea are projecting that Japan's next move, to remove Seoul from its trade whitelist, might not happen right away but be dragged into August.
Industry insiders also say that Japan is not likely, as had been thought, to encourage its financial institutions to collectively disadvantage Korean companies and consumers,... for example by refusing to extend the maturity dates on their loans.
But some experts say individual Japanese companies might take some action against Korean firms.
In the meantime, as South Korea raises international awareness of Japan's export curbs, it's also preparing for measures to counter them,... including a WTO complaint.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
At a highly charged meeting of the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, South Korea slammed Japan's exports curbs and directly called on Tokyo to start dialogue.
Japan, however, did not answer.
Our Choi Si-young reports.
South Korea's deputy trade minister Kim Seung-ho explained how Japan's export curbs are a direct violation of the global trade rules and amount to "diplomatic retaliation," and he urged Japan to start "high-level talks."
"Japan's ambassador evaded to give us a concrete answer. So I asked again to respond to my proposed offer but he flatly turned it down without giving me any plausible reasons."
Kim didn't single out which specific provisions of the WTO rules Japan is violating but said Tokyo's restrictions do not serve what Japan is claiming are "national security" interests. Rather, he said, they will only hurt other countries and individual consumers.
By not disclosing too much information, Kim's strategy seemed to take into account the possibility of Seoul suing Tokyo at the WTO,... in which saying too much could give Japan the upper hand.
Other WTO member states, including the U.S.,... did not express an opinion on the matter publicly.
Some had thought the semiconductor materials subject to the ban might have been shipping from Japan anyway, but industry insiders say they have not been arriving at South Korean customs.
Some experts in South Korea are projecting that Japan's next move, to remove Seoul from its trade whitelist, might not happen right away but be dragged into August.
Industry insiders also say that Japan is not likely, as had been thought, to encourage its financial institutions to collectively disadvantage Korean companies and consumers,... for example by refusing to extend the maturity dates on their loans.
But some experts say individual Japanese companies might take some action against Korean firms.
In the meantime, as South Korea raises international awareness of Japan's export curbs, it's also preparing for measures to counter them,... including a WTO complaint.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.