  
  
WT/DS590/3  
 
30 September 2019  
(19-6277) Page: 1/1 
  Original: English  
 
JAPAN – MEASURES RELATED TO THE EXPORTATION OF  
PRODUCTS AND TECHNOL OGY TO KOREA  
REQUEST TO JOIN CONS ULTATIONS  
Communication from the European Union  
The following communication, dated 26 September 2019 , from the delegation of the European Union  
to the delegation of Japan , and the delegation of the Republic of Korea,  is circulated to the Dispute 
Settlement Body in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Gove rning the Settlement of 
Disputes, the European Union hereby notifies the Government of Japan, the Government of Korea 
and the Dispute Settlement Body that, in light of its substantial trade interest, it desires to be joined 
in the consultations requested b y Korea in a communication circulated to the WTO Members on 16 
September 2019 (WT/DS590/1, G/L/1325) entitled " Japan – Measures related to the exportation of 
products and technology to Korea ". 
 
The European Union notes that the request for consultations re lates to export licensing policies and 
procedures applied by Japan whenever export of fluorinated polyimide, resist polymers and hydrogen 
fluoride and their related technologies are destined for Korea. These products are used primarily for 
the production o f smartphones, TV displays and semiconductors in Korea, which are traded with 
other partners. The European Union is part of the global technology supply chain and it is a major 
importer, exporter and/or producer of the identified products and/or their rela ted technologies. By 
way of illustration: the European Union is among the top world exporters of hydrogen fluoride with 
around EUR 27 million in 2018; the main source worldwide of photoresist polymers is Japan, 
including for the European Union; and the Eur opean Union is a major importer of products 
incorporating semiconductors and displays manufactured in Korea. The request alleges that the 
measures subject to the consultation request may have an impact on the supply and demand of the 
products identified in  the request as well as downstream products, affecting trade flows in these 
products.  
 
On the basis of the above, the European Union has a substantial trade interest in these consultations.  
The European Union looks forward to being informed of the date and  venue of the consultations.  
 
 
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