Supply Chain Research

The Japanese government has launched a WTO complaint regarding South Korea’s support for its shipbuilding industry. It has cited $11.2 billion of financial support provided among other forms of intervention, though securing restitution could take more than a year. The timing is not a surprise given exports of completed vessels from China, Japan and South Korea fell 31.5% on a year earlier in October. That meant the 12-month total value of exports fell to $53.4 billion, or the lowest since at least 2008. There’s little sign of improvement with Chinese shipyards’ orders having declined for...