Japanese car sales sink in South Korea amid trade rift

Japanese car sales sink in South Korea amid trade rift

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) –  Japanese car sales in South Korea fell again last month, as a trade row between the two countries continues to simmer.

Toyota sales slumped 62% in September from a year earlier, while Nissan and Honda also saw sales drop.

The declines came despite a rise in sales of foreign cars overall in South Korea last month.

Tensions between the two sides have sparked boycotts of some Japanese goods in South Korea.

Consumers have reacted to a row between Seoul and Tokyo, which has evolved in recent months from a diplomatic feud into a trade battle.

The dispute flared in July when Japan tightened controls on South Korean exports, targeting materials used in memory chips and display screens that are vital for local companies such as Samsung.

Both countries later struck one another off their list of trusted trade partners. (BBC)