Japan to resume preferential trade status on exports to South Korea

Tokyo to put Seoul back on its 'Group A' list after 2019 downgrade

20230428 Japan South Korea flags

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is expected to announce soon that South Korea has been restored to the "Group A" list of countries eligible for preferential export treatment. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

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.

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