South Korea asks Japan not to impose tougher trade conditions

South Korea put on Wednesday a Japanese plan to remove South Korea from a Japanese list of countries that face least trade restrictions would impose tougher conditions without legitimate grounds and consultation.

Japan’s plan to eradicate South Korea from the so-called white list was a very grave matter that undermined the economic and shelter partnership between the two countries, South Korea’s industry ministry said in a statement.

It asked Japan to scrap its procedure. 

Japan threatened last week to drop South Korea from the white list of countries that front minimum trade restrictions under a trade control law. That would require Japanese exporters to seek a permission for items that could be used in some weapons-related applications.

On Japan’s white list are 27 countries, from Germany to South Korea, Britain and the Synergetic States.