WTO 참석 정부 대표단 "화이트리스트로 확대시 日 위반 더 커져"<br /><br />We begin with the ongoing trade dispute between Korea and Japan.<br />A South Korean delegation is at a WTO meeting in Geneva as we speak,... to make its case against Tokyo's export restrictions against Seoul.<br />Seoul is also due to appeal against Tokyo's decision to cut Korea from its so-called trade whitelist.<br />Our Choi Si-young starts us off.<br />Arriving in Geneva on Monday evening,.. Seoul's senior trade representative, Kim Seung-ho said that the Japanese government is already violating WTO regulations with its export curbs,... and that cutting South Korea from Tokyo's trade whitelist would further breach the global trade rules.<br /><br />"I will refute Tokyo's stance sternly but with grace. I will explain to the WTO member countries the unfairness and gravity of Tokyo's export curbs."<br />Among many possible arguments, he is likely to refer to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or "GATT."<br />Article 11 of the agreement prohibits WTO member countries from putting restrictions on exports.<br />And Kim will likely argue that the Japan's export curbs violate this provision.<br />And on Japan's move to take South Korea off its trade whitelist, Kim can argue that Japan is violating the Most-Favoured-Nation rule aimed at giving equal treatment to all other WTO countries,... a rule guaranteed under paragraph 1 of Article 1 in the trade agreement.<br />The council, made up of representatives of 164 countries, functions as the WTO's top decision making body aside from the ministerial-level conference that's held every two years.<br />Seoul aims to win other countries' support so it can heighten pressure on Tokyo.<br />Meanwhile South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung-hee is visiting Washington this week to highlight the unfairness of Japan's export restrictions.<br />"I will meet with U.S. trade experts and clarify the ramifications of Japan's export curbs on companies in the U.S. and the rest of the world."<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 council meeting in Geneva.<br />Choi Si-young, Arirang News.<br />
