한국 화이트리스트 배제 임박…유명희 장관 RCEP 회의참석 산업부 입장표명

Tokyo removing South Korea from its whitelist on Friday appears to be a likely scenario.
Which is why Seoul's trade minister is looking to use an upcoming regional conference to address the issue.
Seo Eunkyung has the full story.
South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung-hee traveled to Beijing on Thursday to attend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership conference scheduled from Friday to Saturday, where she'll meet her counterpart Seko Hiroshige.
Minister Yoo plans to do whatever she can at the conference to stop Tokyo from cutting Seoul from its trade whitelist.
This will be the first time she will meet with her Japanese counterpart since Japan began its trade restrictions against Korea.
Yoo highlighted how Japan's moves go against the RCEP, a proposed free trade deal between ASEAN and six other countries including South Korea and Japan
"RCEP aims to provide a fair and inclusive global trade environment. We will highlight that Japan's trade curbs are against the fundamental principles of RCEP. And we will also inform members that the Tokyo's decision will take a toll on the supply chain in the region."
The minister made it clear that her party is open to any types of talks with Japan during the conference.
Japan left South Korea's calls for a ministerial meeting during the RCEP unanswered, showing reluctance to engage in high level talks.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced Thursday that Tokyo's plan to cut South Korea from its whitelist would end up hurting Korea-Japan trade, Korea's exports and even the global supply chain.
Seo Eunkyung, Arirang News.