Japan promulgates bill taking S. Korea off export whitelist

TOKYO, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- Japan on Wednesday promulgated a revised bill striking South Korea off its list of trusted trading partners, following last week's Cabinet approval of the measure amid an escalating row with Seoul. The promulgation, by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will put the bill into effect Aug. 28, as the enforcement takes 21 days. Last Friday, Japan's Cabinet approved the proposal stripping South Korea of preferential status for purchasing sensitive items that can be diverted for military use. The delisting of Seoul from its "whitelist" will likely cause delays on Seoul-bound shipments and deal a serious blow to South Korean tech industries that rely heavily on Japanese materials. Relations between the two countries have dipped to one of the lowest points ever since Japan slapped restrictions on certain exports to South Korea last month in apparent retaliation over a row surrounding wartime forced labor. elly@yna.co.kr (END)