Japan, S. Korea Apart in Talks on Tokyo's Tighter Export Controls

Tokyo, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Working-level officials from Japan and South Korea failed to narrow gaps in the two countries' first talks on Friday on Tokyo's tightened controls on exports of semiconductor materials to South Korea. During the meeting in Tokyo, Japanese officials blamed South Korea's poor export controls for the trade measure, according to a senior Japanese industry ministry official with access to the talks. The Japanese participants insisted that the measure did not violate World Trade Organization rules and was not taken for retaliation. The Japanese officials explained that an inappropriate case in South Korea, cited by Tokyo as the reason for the measure, involved bilateral trade, not shipments to third countries like North Korea. Tokyo, which regarded Friday's meeting as nothing but an occasion to confirm facts, refused to hold any talks on the retraction of the trade measure. The South Korean side requested to hold another meeting later this month, while the Japanese side only expressed its readiness to answer additional inquiries. The meeting lasted for more than five hours, far longer than initially scheduled. Tokyo introduced the tighter controls on exports of hydrogen fluoride and two other items on July 4. Seoul is claiming that the Japanese action was politically motivated as it came amid heightened tensions between the two sides, including over the issue of wartime labor. At Friday's meeting, the South Korean officials expressed concerns that the Japanese trade measure will hamper semiconductor production in South Korea, possibly disrupting global supply chains. The South Korean side also argued that the country's export controls are appropriate. On Friday, South Korea expressed its intention to ask international organizations such as the United Nations to investigate export controls in South Korea and Japan. Seoul is also considering filing a complaint against Japan with the World Trade Organization. Japan for its part is expected to shortly take further action against South Korea, removing it from the list of trusted importers. END