A trade feud between South Korea and Japan, two of the world's leading tech producers, has prompted groups not only in those two countries, but also representing Silicon Valley giants to warn an escalation in tensions could wreak long-term damage across an already-buckling global supply chain.
Let's get an analyst's view. Joining me live via skype is Shaun Roache, Chief Economist for the Asia-Pacific region at S&P Global Ratings.
Shaun, welcome to the program.
As a leading economist watching this part of the world, what do you make out of the ongoing trade spat between South Korea and Japan? Could the politicization of the supply chain pose a threat to the regional and global economy?
Japan is considering an expansion in trade restrictions against South Korea as early as this Friday. There are reports that such a move could trigger temporary disruptions for nearly all of the roughly 52-billion U.S. dollars in goods that Seoul imports from Tokyo.
Could such additional trade measures not only dent South Korean economy, but also other trade partners of Seoul?
How are investors reacting to the Seoul, Tokyo trade feud underway? Are they bullish or bearish on the outlook?
Last week, officials from several U.S. tech companies came to South Korea for a meeting with Samsung... to ask about the impact of Japan's trade maneuvering on market conditions.
Is there a possibility that this Seoul, Tokyo trade spat could even threaten availability of Apple iPhones or Amazon's could-computing data servers, for instance?
Shaun Roache, Managing Director and Chief Economist for the Asia-Pacific region at S&P Global Ratings, many thanks for your insights this morning. We appreciate it.
