A policy dialogue was held by Japanese and South Korean trade bureau chiefs for the first time in three and a half years on Monday, discussing Japan’s tightened controls on exports to South Korea.

Until June 2016, bilateral, bureau chief-level talks had been held regularly to exchange views on each nation’s trade control systems. In this latest dialogue, Japan was hoping to confirm South Korea’s efforts to improve its trade control procedures.

The meeting between Yoichi Iida, the director-general of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (Meti’s) Trade Control Department, and Lee Ho-hyeon, director-general of South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s International Trade Policy, was held at the Meti’s main building in Tokyo.

In July, the Japanese government tightened export controls on three items, including hydrogen fluoride, which is used to clean semiconductors, because Japan found “cases of impropriety”, the Meti said. Tokyo hopes to confirm details about the current situation and procedures regarding South Korea’s export controls.

South Korea, on the other hand, has regarded the dialogue as a venue for the revision of the tightened controls. It has claimed that Japan’s toughening of controls violates World Trade Organisation rules that prohibit discriminatory practices among member nations.

In August, Japan enacted an ordinance to remove South Korea from its so-called white list of preferred trading partners for which export procedures are simplified, partly because South Korea’s screening system and laws were deemed to be inadequate.

South Korea strongly opposed the measure. It is believed that Seoul is intending to increase the number of trade inspectors. Japan is expected to confirm whether South Korea is taking effective steps to improve its screening system.

THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK