Ruling party committee to devise measures to support local industries amid Japan's trade curbs

민주 부품소재장비인력발전특위 첫 회의…"실효적 대책 마련"In response to Japan's trade curbs, South Korea's ruling Democratic Party has launched a new committee tasked with finding ways to support local companies making materials, parts and equipment.Former National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun who heads the committee said Thursday that all efforts at the legislative level... will be directed at minimizing the fallout on local companies and helping them boost their competitiveness.He called Tokyo's export controls reckless and irrational,... saying they threaten the two countries' bilateral trade system... and fly in the face of the principles of free trade.Chung added their focus will be finding realistic yet efficient measures by stepping up public and private communication.