S. Korea to file WTO complaint over Japan's export curbs on Wednesday - Reuters

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee told a briefing on Wednesday, the South plans to file a complaint over Japan’s tighter export controls at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Japanese “politically motivated” and “discriminatory”.

Yoo said, “South Korean firms are “faced with serious damage” due to uncertainties over shipments of the three materials - fluorinated polyimides, photoresists and hydrogen fluoride,” per Reuters.

Japan imposed tighter controls on exports of three materials to South Korea following a diplomatic row over compensation for forced laborers during Japan’s occupation of Korea during World War Two.

The spat worsened after Japan removed South Korean from its preferred trade status list.