SKorea to lodge WTO complaint against Japan

Japan's failure to patch up relations with South Korea at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka resulted in imposing restrictions on exports of key technology materials.

Seoul: The South Korean government on Monday filed a complaint about Japan's imposition of restrictions on exports of key technology materials used to produce chips and displays.

The move came in response to South Korea's Supreme Court rulings that ordered Japanese firms to compensate South Korean plaintiffs over forced labour during World War II.

Starting from Thursday, Japanese manufacturers of fluorinated polyimides, which are used in displays and a material called resist and hydrogen fluoride used in semiconductors, must apply for approval for sales to South Korea.

Meanwhile, Seoul will eye on the potential impact of Japan's trade regulation.

The Japanese ministry said the move comes after overtures to patch up relations with South Korea failed at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka last week and cited a decline in relations of international trust as the reason for imposing the restrictions.