TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) intends to redesignate South Korea as a "Group A" (formerly "White List") country, making it eligible for preferential export treatment, Nikkei has learned.
Japan downgraded South Korea to "Group B" in August 2019, leaving few preferences available to Japanese exporters in dealing with trade controls. METI cited as reasons for the downgrade a shortage of personnel, as well as the fact that a "catchall regulation" -- a screening system for South Korean exports of parts and materials that could be used for military purposes -- had been only partly introduced.
