In the past, Wakayama City was unable to take off and land giant airliners like the Airbus A380. Today, it can take off and land on the Airbus A380.

The influx of people and the number of newborns continue to increase substantially. The city has once again become one of the veritable steel bases of western Japan.

All these good signs are enough to represent that Wakayama City is thriving again. Among them, Karuizawa Heavy Industries, which is the backbone of the economy, has made an indispensable contribution.

Masao Ishihara arrived in Wakayama City and appeared in the high-level conference room of Karuizawa Heavy Industries headquarters. He sat on the top spot.

Takashi Mizukawa, president of Karuizawa Heavy Industries, personally presided over the meeting. He didn't drag the slightest bit and said: "The South Korean Ministry of Commerce has officially sent a document to our Karuizawa Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. regarding questioning steel dumping.

In short, if we do not carry out certain rectifications, to be precise, to increase the price according to their intentions, we will be subject to anti-dumping measures. ”

The deputy minister of the accounting department said categorically: "This is completely a unilateral threat from South Korea to our Chiguoguo." There is absolutely no way to increase the price.

If we follow the requirements of the Ministry of Commerce of South Korea, we will completely lose the price advantage of POSCO and other related Korean steel mills in automobiles, ships and other steel types. ”

Ishihara Masao's gaze fell on her, but he couldn't remember for a while, "Why do you look so familiar?" ”

The deputy minister of the accounting department replied seriously: "Before, I was the old secretary of the eldest prince. Now, Asuka Hayasaka has been able to take charge on her own. So, she took over my old job completely.

Originally, I was supposed to be transferred to work in the secretary office of the Karuizawa Group headquarters. However, the eldest prince felt that I was more suitable to work here at Karuizawa Heavy Industries.

After all, Karuizawa Commercial Bank and Karuizawa Heavy Industries need to be connected seamlessly, and I know and am very familiar with Karuizawa Commercial Bank. Therefore, I was assigned to Karuizawa Heavy Industries as the deputy director of the accounting department. ”

Ishihara Masao said clearly: "Is your opinion also the unanimous opinion of everyone here?" ”

The head of the accounting department continued: "From the beginning, although we did not want to force the Korean steel industry to death, it has caused a lot of pressure in the invisible and tangible.

If not, the Ministry of Commerce wouldn't have sent us that one thing. It is absolutely impossible to increase the price of the price. Once the price rises, isn't it confirmed that we were dumping steel in South Korea before?

If it's the South Korean side, it's just waiting for us to jump into it. If you strike another blow and sue us directly to the World Trade Organization, it will be even more troublesome.

If we are bitten to death by the South Korean Ministry of Commerce, saying that we are dumping, otherwise we will not be weak-minded and raise prices or something, it will be too passive. ”

Masao Ishihara's attention shifted to Takashi Mizukawa and said, "What do you think? ”

Takashi Mizukawa said seriously: "I don't agree with the price increase either." In both the short and long term, price increases will not bring us much profit growth, but will also weaken our current exports.

If the ROK Ministry of Commerce does not change its attitude and insists on initiating anti-dumping against us, then we will be able to accompany it to the end.

Even if we lose the South Korean market, there will still be a wide range of markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America. Our price advantage is the greatest international competitiveness.

If South Korea doesn't buy it, I don't believe other countries will follow suit. The result of South Korea's insistence on going its own way will only push up the cost of building cars and ships.

This is tantamount to reducing the export of related commodities and losing competitiveness in the international market. It will also have a negative impact on South Korea's foreign trade. ”

Masao Ishihara received a clear message from the top management of Karuizawa Heavy Industries that he would not accept the price increase request from the South Korean Ministry of Commerce.

Karuizawa Heavy Industries' exports to South Korea have an impact on similar products in its home country and the entire industry.

In order to protect its own related enterprises, South Korea used such a crooked trick. As for the purpose, it is to make Karuizawa Heavy Industries retreat.

Masao Ishihara, who is a good listener, did not rush to make a decision and said, "Are there any other people who have different opinions?" If so, speak up. ”

Vice President Zhengse said: "I have a different opinion. Since the Ministry of Commerce of South Korea asked us to raise the price, we not only did not raise it, but also took the initiative to reduce it.

In this way, even if it cannot directly defeat Pohang Steel, it can also defeat some relatively weak steel companies in South Korea. After that, we will also be able to increase our further occupation of the Korean market. ”

Takashi Mizukawa immediately objected, saying, "In my personal opinion, although the idea is good, we will face more challenges in the future. If one doesn't do it well, he will force the Korean dog to jump off the wall.

The steel industry is not only an industry in South Korea, but also a symbol of the backbone of their nation. Koreans, in turn, are a people with high self-esteem.

Once they break out into large-scale demonstrations, protests, and even boycotts of steel from all over Japan, it means that not only the South Korean Ministry of Commerce, but also the South Korean government will have to face it squarely.

The escalation of the trade dispute between the two countries will also involve more energy to deal with this one matter. This is also not in line with the other strategic intent of the entire Karuizawa Group and the future of the chairman. ”

The vice president said, "I think this is an opportunity. Even if it doesn't kill South Korea's steel industry, it can be disabled. Just like the semiconductor dispute between South Korea and Japan.

At that time, even if the South Korean government and people insist and do not agree, it will not prevent the South Korean chaebols from coming to Japan to take the initiative to sue for peace. ”

Takashi Mizukawa retorted, "It's just two natures. At that time, the semiconductor war between Japan and South Korea was because Japan was able to block the export of three key raw materials in South Korea's semiconductors.

That is, the Koreans simply could not produce it, and were forced and had to import. And we can't get stuck in the neck of South Korea.

They are perfectly capable of producing it. It's just that the cost is higher than ours. We're more of a price advantage than a technical one. ”

The vice president said-for-tat: "As long as it takes a long time, it will still make the Koreans uncomfortable, after all, it will greatly push up the cost of their related products, especially those that earn foreign exchange through exports." ”

Mizukawa Takashi resolutely disagreed: "A big price war is to kill a thousand enemies and lose 800 yourself." Even if you win in the end, it will be a miserable victory, not worth it. ”

(End of chapter)