S.Korea to halt WTO dispute process while discussing Japan's export curbs (updated)

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06/03/2023 06:47

(Adds background)
       SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) - South Korea will halt a World
Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution process sparked by a
complaint against Japan as the two countries discuss Japan's
export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea, the two
countries' trade ministries said on Monday. 
    In 2019, Japan imposed export curbs on high-tech materials
used in smartphone displays and chips amid a decades-old row
with Seoul about South Koreans who said they were forced to work
for Japanese firms during World War Two.
    South Korean tech firms such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
 005930.KS , SK Hynix Inc  000660.KS  and LG Display Co Ltd
 034220.KS  were among companies widely expected to be affected
by the curbs.
    The impact of the curbs was limited as the companies found
import routes through other countries, worked to diversify
sourcing - including investing in local materials firms - and
some Japanese firms set up production in South Korea, analysts
said.

 (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang; Editing by Kim
Coghill and Christopher Cushing)
 ((joyce.lee@tr.com;))