Japan allows first photoresist export to South Korea since month-long trade dispute
- 5 years ago
日 "수출규제 반도체 소재 韓 수출 첫 허가"…"안보 우려 없는 거래"
For the first time since the trade dispute between South Korea and Japan began, Japan gave its permission for the export of a Korea-bound key high-tech material, which was subject to stricter regulations.
Our Kim Mok-yeon has this report.
Japan's trade minister announced that Tokyo approved the shipment of an extreme ultraviolet photoresist to South Korea, for the first time since it tightened export restrictions to Seoul.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko said that the ministry made the approval after a concluding that the latest shipment posed no risk to Japan's national security.
"The South Korean government has criticized Japan by saying there is an 'embargo' on shipments. Because of this, we have decided to disclose exports that have passed through our strict examination procedure and show that we have granted approvals."
Without mentioning the specifics of the latest exports, the minister stressed that Japan is making the rare announcement because of Seoul's 'embargo' accusations.
However, Seko still warned that their trade controls with Seoul could be expanded if they detect any signs of inappropriateness with items other than the three announced in July.
Photoresist is one of the three key semiconductor materials that Japan tightened its regulations for exports to South Korea on July 4th.
Those tighter regulations make photoresist, fluorinated polyimides and hydrogen fluoride subject to case-by-case inspections in order to be imported to South Korea.
In response to Japan's announcement, South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that Tokyo's economic restrictions against Seoul are still unjustifiable.
"Given that Japan is one of the countries that benefits a lot from free trade, Japan's economic restrictions on South Korea are self-contradicting. The measures are unjustifiable and not suitable for a world power like Japan. We will work to get things back to normal through diplomatic efforts."
Japanese media also reported on the latest photoresist shipment, hinting that Tokyo's latest approval signals that Japan is not banning trade with South Korea itself.
The Sankei Shimbun reported Japan is permitting exports to Korea once it confirms that there is no security threat, adding that Tokyo's tightening of trade controls on Seoul is not a trade embargo.
The Yomiuri Shimbun also highlighted that the permission shows that Tokyo's export curbs are not a trade regulation, and that trade will continue with South Korea if no problem has been detected during the review process.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
For the first time since the trade dispute between South Korea and Japan began, Japan gave its permission for the export of a Korea-bound key high-tech material, which was subject to stricter regulations.
Our Kim Mok-yeon has this report.
Japan's trade minister announced that Tokyo approved the shipment of an extreme ultraviolet photoresist to South Korea, for the first time since it tightened export restrictions to Seoul.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko said that the ministry made the approval after a concluding that the latest shipment posed no risk to Japan's national security.
"The South Korean government has criticized Japan by saying there is an 'embargo' on shipments. Because of this, we have decided to disclose exports that have passed through our strict examination procedure and show that we have granted approvals."
Without mentioning the specifics of the latest exports, the minister stressed that Japan is making the rare announcement because of Seoul's 'embargo' accusations.
However, Seko still warned that their trade controls with Seoul could be expanded if they detect any signs of inappropriateness with items other than the three announced in July.
Photoresist is one of the three key semiconductor materials that Japan tightened its regulations for exports to South Korea on July 4th.
Those tighter regulations make photoresist, fluorinated polyimides and hydrogen fluoride subject to case-by-case inspections in order to be imported to South Korea.
In response to Japan's announcement, South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that Tokyo's economic restrictions against Seoul are still unjustifiable.
"Given that Japan is one of the countries that benefits a lot from free trade, Japan's economic restrictions on South Korea are self-contradicting. The measures are unjustifiable and not suitable for a world power like Japan. We will work to get things back to normal through diplomatic efforts."
Japanese media also reported on the latest photoresist shipment, hinting that Tokyo's latest approval signals that Japan is not banning trade with South Korea itself.
The Sankei Shimbun reported Japan is permitting exports to Korea once it confirms that there is no security threat, adding that Tokyo's tightening of trade controls on Seoul is not a trade embargo.
The Yomiuri Shimbun also highlighted that the permission shows that Tokyo's export curbs are not a trade regulation, and that trade will continue with South Korea if no problem has been detected during the review process.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.