Japan Relaxes Export Controls on 3 Items to South Korea

Japan recently loosened export restrictions on shipments of hydrogen fluoride, fluorinated polymide and resists to South Korea following the end of a long-running trade dispute between the two countries. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it added the three items, which are high-tech materials used in smartphone displays and chips, to the scope of its "Special General Bulk Export License system," effectively lifting the restrictions. The announcement, which took effect March 23, comes after South Korea withdrew its dispute complaint at the World Trade Organization (see 2303240044 and 2303170015).