Japan slams S. Korea's plan for battery certification

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TOKYO, June 22 Kyodo -
The Japanese government lashed out Monday at South Korea's plan to introduce a
compulsory certification system for lithium-ion batteries, fearing it could
hurt Japanese exports.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai said Japan will
complain to the World Trade Organization this week as Seoul reportedly plans to
require that foreign companies obtain approval from South Korean authorities to
make and sell products using the batteries, starting July 1.
''We fear the new regulation, if introduced, could amount to a trade barrier
for foreign companies,'' Nikai said at a news conference.
Japan, the world's leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, will express
its objection to the South Korean move at a WTO panel meeting this week, Nikai
said.
Lithium-ion batteries are used in such products as laptop computers, mobile
phones and digital cameras, and Japanese makers account for nearly 60 percent
of the global output of the batteries.
The envisaged certification program may delay the export process for Japanese
goods shipped to South Korea and consequently damage the business strategies of
companies, Japanese government officials said.
==Kyodo
2009-06-22 22:40:45