Japan officially lifts South Korea trade curbs, as ties warm

Seoul concurrently withdraws WTO dispute settlement

Japan lifts export controls over three items to South Korea, as both sides move toward reconciliation.

Nikkei staff writers

March 23, 2023 20:50 JST

TOKYO/SEOUL -- Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced Thursday that it has amended and relaxed rules over the export of three semiconductor materials to South Korea with immediate effect.

Since July 2019, three key materials that are used in semiconductors and OLED panels have been put under stricter export controls. Japanese exporters have to meet strict criteria before they can obtain permits to ship those materials to South Korea, such as demonstrating that they had established internal export rules and on-site inspections.