TOKYO, Japan, July 12 (NNN-NHK) – Japan and South Korea will hold talks in Tokyo on Friday (today), to discuss Japan’s tightened curbs on exports of some materials to S. Korea.
The meeting will take place at South Korea’s request, which will be the first between the two countries, since Japan implemented the measure, last week.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, last week tightened restrictions on exports of high-tech materials to South Korea, citing “significant damage to relationship of mutual trust.”
Under the new restrictions, individual applications will be necessary for exports to S. Korea of three materials used in high-tech products, a process that can take around 90 days.
The materials are fluorinated polyimide, hydrogen fluoride and resist, which are used in the manufacturing process of semiconductors and screens for smartphones and TVs.
Seoul is demanding Tokyo to withdraw the measure. South Korean officials are expected to ask their Japanese counterparts to give a more thorough explanation for the action they have taken.
Japanese officials claimed that S. Korea’s own trade controls are lax, and that has raised security concerns. They are expected to say the measure is a result of a review of trade controls and is not up for discussion.– NNN-NHK