SOUTH KOREA’S trade minister said yesterday Seoul had complained to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about China’s retaliation against South Korean companies over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in the South.

    “We have notified the WTO that China may be in violation of some trade agreements,” Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan told parliament in response to questions about China’s reaction to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.

    Joo said the issue was raised with the WTO’s Council for Trade in Services on Friday after China allegedly imposed restrictions on South Korean companies in the tourism and distribution sectors.

    A trade ministry official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the complaint could not be categorized as legal action but was rather a request for the WTO to look into whether China was upholding trade agreements fairly.

    South Korea and the United States say the sole purpose of the THAAD system is to guard against missile launches from North Korea but China has been infuriated by its deployment, saying that its powerful radar could penetrate into its territory. Beijing also says THAAD will do nothing to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

    China is South Korea’s largest trading partner and the dispute over THAAD has resulted in a sharp decline in Chinese tourists in the South’s shopping districts.

    The South Korean Government has offered cheap loans and extended deadlines on existing debt to help businesses that have been affected and has pushed to diversify trade markets.

    Lawmakers ramped up their criticism of what they say has been the government’s lack of an aggressive response to China’s actions, which also allegedly include a freeze on South Korean television dramas, as well as music and product boycotts.

    (SD-Agencies)