One of the World Trade Organization's highest decision making bodies is set to discuss Japan's export restrictions on Seoul,... upon the request of the South Korean government.<br />Kim Hyo-sun has more on a meeting that could get fiery as the two sides argue their positions.<br />Amid heightening trade tensions between South Korea and Japan,... the WTO General Council is set to discuss Tokyo's trade curbs on Seoul.<br />South Korea's trade ministry says its deputy minister for multilateral and legal affairs, Kim Seung-ho will attend the meeting that will take place in Geneva on Tuesday.<br />The showdown will begin at 10AM local time, which is 5PM Korea time.<br />While council meetings are usually attended by ambassadors,... Seoul has decided to send Kim,... an international trade expert,... due to the seriousness of the issue.<br />Arriving in Geneva on Monday evening,... Kim expressed hope that the Japanese government would take prudent steps.<br />He also stressed he will sternly refute Tokyo's stance at the meeting.<br />Participated by representatives of 164 countries,... the council functions as the WTO's top decision making body aside from the ministerial-level conference that's held every two years.<br />Seoul plans to emphasize that Tokyo's trade restrictions go against the WTO's free trade principles,... urging the immediate withdrawal of the measures.<br />It also aims to win other countries' support so it can heighten pressure on Tokyo.<br />Japan is also threatening to remove South Korea from its "whitelist" of trade partners with minimum restrictions.<br />It remains to be seen how the international community will react to the remarks made by Seoul and Tokyo during what promises to be a tense meeting in the normally sleepy Swiss city.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
