国際訴訟対応を強化　紛争処理室を格上げ―外務省

　外務省は３１日、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）協定や経済連携協定をめぐる紛争解決の重要性が高まっているとして、経済局国際経済紛争処理室を廃止し、国際法局に経済紛争処理課を新設すると発表した。８月３日付。国際司法裁判所（ＩＣＪ）などへの対応を専門とする国際法局に人材を集中させ、経済分野での紛争処理を戦略的に行う。
　茂木敏充外相は記者会見で「極めて専門性が要求される分野であり、課を新設して人材を集めて対応したい」と語った。（2020/07/31-17:13）

Japan's Foreign Ministry said Friday it will set up a new division to settle economic disputes with other countries under World Trade Organization rules and bilateral economic partnership agreements.
   The division will be created at the International Legal Affairs Bureau on Monday. Instead, the Economic Affairs Bureau's International Trade and Investment Dispute Settlement Division will be abolished.
   The reorganization is aimed at concentrating officials with expertise in international law and settlement of economic disputes at the legal affairs bureau, which also deals with International Court of Justice matters.
   Japan finds it "increasingly important to settle disputes under EPAs and investment accords" as well as WTO rules, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at a press conference Friday.
   The ministry's move came on the heels of the WTO's decision Wednesday to set up a dispute settlement panel at Seoul's request over Japan's tightening of controls on semiconductor material exports to South Korea in July last year.