Lee Chang-yang "Export Performance Expected to Turn Positive Around Year-End"

"IAEA Has Credibility... Government Guarantees Seafood Safety"

Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, forecasted the export trend for the second half of this year, stating, "By the end of the year, the export growth rate will be positive compared to the same period last year."

Minister Lee made these remarks on the 5th during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. He explained, "China's economic recovery has not fully taken off, and the semiconductor sector is also not fully recovering," but added, "By the end of the year, the export growth rate will improve, and the trade balance is expected to remain in surplus continuously after September."

Regarding the criticism that escaping a trade deficit on June 16 after 16 months might be a 'recession-type surplus,' he dismissed it by saying, "'Recession-type surplus' generally refers to when economic growth is negative for two consecutive quarters," and emphasized, "Our economy is currently showing a high growth rate of 1%."

On the possibility that the World Trade Organization (WTO) might later recommend or allow imports of Fukushima seafood due to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) decision, he stressed, "The import of Fukushima seafood and the issue of contaminated water discharge are completely different matters," and added, "If safety is not guaranteed, imports will not be permitted."

Regarding the speculation that the IAEA might have colluded with Japan to announce that the Fukushima nuclear plant's contaminated water discharge plan meets international safety standards, he stated, "The IAEA is a credible organization," and said, "I find it hard to believe the claim that they colluded with Japan."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.