News Japan officially removes South Korea from white list (1 Viewer)

[SeulPika]

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The Cabinet on Friday formally approved ejecting South Korea from the so-called white list countries entitled to receive preferential treatment in trade, likely further aggravating Japan’s relations with the neighbor ahead of a trilateral meeting with the United States later in the day.

Trade minister Hiroshige Seko said the measure will go into effect on Aug. 28 during a news conference.
“The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will apply strict scrutiny as export control authorities,” he told reporters.

The Japanese measure is the second phase of its export control enhancement toward South Korea. Japan claims that removing the preferential export status is strictly because of a loss of trust and national security concerns, whereas South Korea argues the Japanese motive is to damage its economy because of political and historical grievances.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Taro Kono and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Bangkok in an attempt to ease tensions. The U.S. has reportedly proposed Japan and South Korea sign a “standstill agreement.”

Kono and Kang met Thursday but failed to break a stalemate.

South Korea had been the only Asian nation on Japan’s “white list,” from which no entity has ever been removed. The ejection of South Korea will leave 26 countries — including the United States, France and Argentina — on the list.

Once removed, South Korea will be treated the same way as other countries not on the white list in terms of export control. Exports to South Korea will require additional screening to ensure they will not be misappropriated for the production of weapons — conventional or those of mass destruction. South Korea has vigorously objected to the proposed new controls.

Japan and South Korea have long had rocky relations but it got worse last year following a series of South Korean judicial decisions on wartime forced labor requiring Japanese companies to pay compensation.

Japan has already rolled out stricter export control measures toward South Korea. Starting July 4, Tokyo imposed stricter rules on the export of three chemicals: fluorinated polyimide, hydrogen fluoride and a group of chemicals known as resists. They are vital to smartphone screens and semiconductors, critical South Korean industries.

South Korea has warned the stringent export regulations will hurt the global supply chain. Japan has dismissed the argument.



[Updates to follow.]

Source: The Japan Times


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This is breaking news so more information on this will follow soon. But the Japanese government have just officially removed South Korea from the so called white list of countries that can freely import materials from Japan without gaining prior from Japanese trading officials first. This process can take up to 90 days and result in huge delays of transporting materials that are used by huge corporations such as Samsung and others within the hi tech industry that produces smartphones and other electronic devices.
This is all in response to Japan's accusations of South Korea illegally supplying materials that can be used to make weapons to North Korea (SK officials have already admitted that around 160 units of these materials are 'unaccounted' for)


As a result of this. Tensions between both countries has been escalating and there's already been protesting within Korea with Koreans boycotting Japanese products. However with today's decision, these tensions will escalate even further and this could result in huge repercussions on both sides. With a huge possibility of this even going as far as hitting the Korean entertainment industry. Especially for groups from JYP, SM, YG, Big Hit who depend massively on the Japanese market for revenue. .

 

[Panda]

I mean, if SK really did supply NK with materials, I seriously don’t blame Japan for this at all. But it really looks like the relations between the two will never come to a positive end...

 

[RandAlThor]

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The Cabinet on Friday formally approved ejecting South Korea from the so-called “white list” countries entitled to receive preferential treatment in trade, likely further aggravating Japan’s relations with the neighbor.

The removal will become effective from Aug. 28.

[Updates to follow.]

Source: The Japan Times


---------------------


This is breaking news so more information on this will follow soon. But the Japanese government have just officially removed South Korea from the so called white list of countries that can freely trade with Japan without requiring approval first.
This is in response to Japan's accusations of South Korea illegally supplying materials that can be used to make weapons to North Korea (SK officials have already admitted that around 160 units of this material has been 'misplaced')

Going forward. For any trade to take place between the two countries, traders will have to apply for a permit 90 days in advance of wanting the materials. And this will have a hugely negative impact on South Korean companies such as Samsung who use the Japanese materials within their products.


Tensions between both countries has been escalating recently and they will now escalate at a faster rate. Things are about to get seriously ugly between the two countries.

So this is analogous to most favored nation status?
That is freaking hard core.
Its the nuke of international trade relations.

Even as much as its deserved China's MFN status has not been pulled nor Russia's.

 

[QueenB]

i'm waiting for the nuclear clock to move again

 

[SeulPika]

I mean, if SK really did supply NK with materials, I seriously don’t blame Japan for this at all. But it really looks like the relations between the two will never come to a positive end...

South Korean officials are of course trying to deny this and are saying that this is Japanese retaliation for the decisions made by South Korean courts to force Japanese companies to provide compensation for forced labour in WWII (A court decision that goes against the agreements of 1965 and 2015). However SK officials have been caught on record admitting that around 160 units of these materials are unaccounted for.

So this is analogous to most favored nation status?
That is freaking hard core.
Its the nuke of international trade relations.

Even as much as its deserved China's MFN status has not been pulled nor Russia's.

China aren't on the white list of approved nations. South Korea were the only Asian nation that Japan gave this preferential treatment to. Not even Thailand, Taiwan, & Singapore who are among Japan's biggest trading partners were on this white list.

The loss of trust is all of South Korea's own doing and now they will have to trade with Japan without the preferential treatment that was given to them.

Defying pushback, Japan set to remove South Korea from ‘white list’ countries

South Korea had been the only Asian nation on Japan’s “white list,” from which no entity has ever been removed.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[VillageIdiot]

Can someone explain to me what the motive is in SK giving NK weapons supplies?
You'd think they'd be the last people that would want that

 

[SeulPika]

Can someone explain to me what the motive is in SK giving NK weapons supplies?
You'd think they'd be the last people that would want that

There's fears among many that Moon Jae In and his office are trying to gain warmer ties with the Chinese and North Koreans (at the expense of their relationship with the USA and Japan).

This wouldn't be surprising either. Especially considering the level of corruption that has plagued South Korean politics post Korean War. And unless South Korean officials can give convincing evidence to the Japanese that they weren't supplying the NK regime with these materials. Then SK doesn't have a leg to stand on.
They've also already tried taking Japan to the WTO over Japan's tightening regulations. However no other nation wanted to side with the SK officials on it.

 

[RandAlThor]

South Korean officials are of course trying to deny this and are saying that this is Japanese retaliation for the decisions made by South Korean courts to force Japanese companies to provide compensation for forced labour in WWII (A court decision that goes against the agreements of 1965 and 2015). However SK officials have been caught on record admitting that around 160 units of these materials are unaccounted for.



China aren't on the white list of approved nations. South Korea were the only Asian nation that Japan gave this preferential treatment to. Not even Thailand, Taiwan, & Singapore who are among Japan's biggest trading partners were on this white list.

The loss of trust is all of South Korea's own doing and now they will have to trade with Japan without the preferential treatment that was given to them.

Defying pushback, Japan set to remove South Korea from ‘white list’ countries

South Korea had been the only Asian nation on Japan’s “white list,” from which no entity has ever been removed.

www.japantimes.co.jp

so its different, thanks.

more like a special side agreement among friends similar to NAFTA i would think.
unlike MFN

How Most Favored Nation Status Lowers Your Shopping Bill

Most favored nation status is given to countries by partners when they join the WTO. MFN countries must provide each other concessions and privileges in trade agreements.

www.thebalance.com

Understanding the MFN Clause: Equal Trading Terms Explained

Explore the most-favored-nation (MFN) clause, a cornerstone of global trade that ensures equal treatment of trading partners, with exceptions outlined by WTO norms.

www.investopedia.com

well the current pres is a NK refugee/defector i believe. some did spin him as a sleeper or Manchurian candidate :) but that does seem a bit long term for NK planing. More like Chinese planing.

 

[Mayday]

I-

 

[blueberries]

Sounds like it will be fun for japanese kpop artists..

 

[VillageIdiot]

Sounds like it will be fun for japanese kpop artists..

So many groups have followed the Twice model of Japanese members to boost J sales

 

[SeulPika]

Sounds like it will be fun for japanese kpop artists..

So many groups have followed the Twice model of Japanese members to boost J sales

This is just my predication.

Unless the Japanese governments decides to do something drastic like banning Korean entertainment (just as how Japanese entertainment was once banned in Korea), then there shouldn't be much of an effect on groups' sales and touring in Japan. Because unlike the Koreans who are boycotting Japanese products because 'hate on Japan' >>>>>>> 'finding out what's actually going on'. The Japanese aren't out there calling for boycotts. In Shin Okubo it's business as usual. Albums are still being sold in Tower Records etc. Concerts are still going ahead... It's business as usual in Japan because the general public no longer care when SK decides to throw another tantrum.

 

[blueberries]

This is just my predication.

Unless the Japanese governments decides to do something drastic like banning Korean entertainment (just as how Japanese entertainment was once banned in Korea), then there shouldn't be much of an effect on groups' sales and touring in Japan. Because unlike the Koreans who are boycotting Japanese products because 'hate on Japan' >>>>>>> 'finding out what's actually going on'. The Japanese aren't out there calling for boycotts. In Shin Okubo it's business as usual. Albums are still being sold in Tower Records etc. Concerts are still going ahead... It's business as usual in Japan because the general public no longer care when SK decides to throw another tantrum.

They will however face backlash in Korea, there is quite nasty comments already like "go back to your country" and such.

 

[SeulPika]

They will however face backlash in Korea, there is quite nasty comments already like "go back to your country" and such.

There will forever be Anti Japanese sentiment by South Korean society :/ Being Anti Japanese is actively promoted and encouraged by the South Korean government (and the SK government still have the nerve to be surprised that Japan will no longer give them special benefits)

 

[potato]

I was actually reading about this the other day. I don't blame Japan in this case tbh... I'm more upset over the fact that this is just going to further the division between the two countries.

What I don't understand is why are Koreans boycotting Japanese products? Is it because Japan is taking them off the white list? I don't really understand the public's motive here.

 

[SeulPika]

I was actually reading about this the other day. I don't blame Japan in this case tbh... I'm more upset over the fact that this is just going to further the division between the two countries.

What I don't understand is why are Koreans boycotting Japanese products? Is it because Japan is taking them off the white list? I don't really understand the public's motive here.

Koreans themselves don't even know the reason why they are protesting and boycotting. They hear "Japan" and their response is "The Japanese are bad people" and that's because the South Korean government have educated them to think in such a way.

They should've protested against their own government back in 2005 when official documents from the 1965 Peace Treaty revealed that the Japanese government insisted on directly compensation the individual victims of forced labor (including the comfort women). However the Korean regime at the time disagreed and 'promised' that they would compensate the victims with the money that Japan handed over to them. That money never made it to the victims though.... It made it's way into the pockets of the corrupt SK officials and conglomerates.

Then there was the 2015 agreement which was supposed to be final and irreversible. However in a few short years the SK government decided to go against that agreement as well and said that it was invalid. Even after they already accepted the compensation from Japan.


Japan have been one of the few countries to show genuine contributions towards building a prosperous South Korean economy and this is the way that they've been treated. They've always been treated with hostility and as if they were a enemy of South Korea. And this would be amplified when a SK leader's popularity would be on the decline. They'd use Japan as their whipping boy to distract the SK population from the issues back home.

 

[SeulPika]

I don't understand why they were on the white list to begin with, If Singapore and Taiwan + the majority of ASEAN countries aren't on it what makes SK officials think they deserve special treatment.

Japan showed a genuine willingness to help build a strong and prosperous Korean economy. But they've finally had enough of the hostility that has always been thrown their way.

 

[Administrator2]

I'm sure SK is shaking. Japan, get it together.

 

[quinby]

Well damn. Wake up to this and news of wanting to impeach the sk pres. So that's what's been going on.

 

[SeulPika]

I'm sure SK is shaking. Japan, get it together.

Japan manufactures 90% of the world's fluorinated polyimide, hydrogen fluoride and a group of chemicals known as resists. They are vital to smartphone screens and semiconductors, and SK relies heavily on Japan for these chemicals.

The reason why Japan have removed SK from the whitelist is because around 160 units of these chemicals have gone 'missing' and Japan suspects that SK have been exporting them to NK which goes against UN embargoes against the North.