South Korea summons Japan ambassador as export trade curbs take effect

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

South Korea summoned Japan’s ambassador to protest a decision to remove Seoul’s fast-track export status, which took effect on Wednesday amid a deepening political and economic feud.

Japan dropped South Korea from a so-called “white list” of favored trade partners this month, which could mean more paperwork and on-site inspections for some Japanese exporters and potentially slow supplies of a range of goods.

The move, which came into force on Wednesday, prompted South Korea to drop Japan from its favored trading list and scrap an intelligence-sharing agreement.

South Korean deputy national security adviser Kim Hyun-chong said it was deeply regrettable that Japan’s decision to scrap fast-track export status for South Korea has taken effect.

South Korea would be willing to reconsider its decision to end the intelligence-sharing pact if Tokyo corrected its “unjust measures”, Kim told a news conference.

“I want to stress the ball is in Japan’s court,” he said.

28th August 2019

Reuters