South Korea takes Japan to WTO

Frank Smith
Press TV, Seoul

South Korea Wednesday notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Japan that it will file a dispute over export controls Tokyo implemented on goods heading to South Korea beginning in July.

South Korea’s WTO complaint is the latest in an ongoing months-long trade dispute. Japan’s measures seek to damage South Korea’s most valued sectors.

South Korea said it expects to have Japan’s export curbs eliminated within 15 months, but WTO dispute resolution has been taking longer, often surpassing 3 years.

South Koreans expressed their displeasure over Japan’s moves with several large demonstrations galvanizing broad public opinion.

In late 2018 South Korea’s supreme court awarded compensation to forced Korean laborers of Japanese wartime enterprises, prompting Tokyo’s response. Japan argues it has already apologized and settled outstanding issues with a 1965 agreement many South Koreans do not recognize.

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