Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
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Tokyo/Seoul, August 8: Japan has approved the first shipment of its high-tech material to  South Korea since it imposed export restriction last month, warning it could widen its curbs on exports to Seoul.

According to Reuters news reports, the subsequent warning and the approval demonstrate how Japan was keen to put a comma in the diplomatic row but yet not willing to completely cut off its exports curbs on South Korea.

“Usually, we don’t announce each time we give export permission. However, the South Korean government has referred to our moves as an embargo on exports, which is unfair criticism,” Japanese Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko told a briefing.

He added Japan would expand the restrictions ahead of the three expertized chemicals – hydrogen fluouride, photoresists, and fluorinated polyimides, in case of “improper” use.

On Thursday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in  said tighter restrictions would undermine Tokyo’s international credibility, accusing Japan of using industrial benefits as its weapon against any other nation.

“Even if there are any gains, it will be short-lived. In the end it is a game without winners, where everyone, including Japan itself, becomes a victim,” Moon said.

“They approved only one out of a number of items,” a senior South Korean trade ministry official underlined.

A presidential official said: “It doesn’t mean that uncertainties have been completely removed for the other items.”

South Korea has put on hold its plan on Thursday to remove Japan from the favoured “white list” of nations with fast-track export business, two officials familiar with the matter at the South Korean trade ministry reported.

South Korean ministers were scheduled originally on Thursday to decide on its plan at a meeting, however, they agreed to hold further discussions over this matter with the government of Japan, one of the officials stated, without explaining on the reasons for such delay.

 

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