Category: Japan Trade Information

June 27, 2023

On Tuesday, June 27, the 3^rd Japan-EU High-level Economic Dialogue was held, attended by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, as well as Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, and European Commissioner for Trade.

1. The Dialogue was attended by Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, as well as Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, and European Commissioner for Trade.

2. At the beginning of the meeting, the Ministers and the Executive Vice-President noted that a high level of cooperation has been achieved between Japan and the EU, which share fundamental values, and took this opportunity to endorse the “Japan- EU Digital Trade Principles”.

3. The Ministers and the Executive Vice-President discussed in the dialogue, (1) Japan -EU Economic Cooperation, (2) Economic Security, and (3) Rules-Based Free and Fair Trade Framework.

(1) Japan-EU Economic Cooperation
Minister Nishimura expressed his desire to accelerate discussions on the inclusion of “Provisions for the Free Flow of Data” in the EU-Japan EPA, with the aim of achieving a commercially meaningful and high level of discipline, and stated his expectations for greater cooperation in the Global South in coordination with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy. He also requested the early lifting of the EU’s import measures on Japanese food products, based on scientific evidence.

(2) Economic Security
The Ministers and the Executive Vice-President welcomed the progress of comprehensive cooperation between Japan and the EU in the field of economic security, and exchanged point of views on, “Addressing Economic Coercion,” ” Addressing Non-Market Policies and Practices,” ” Building Resilient Supply Chains,” and ” Export Control and Investment Screening”, including cooperation in the context of the G7.
Minister Nishimura stated that in his evaluation the EU’s economic security strategy is in line with Japan’s economic security strategy and expressed his desire to promote cooperation between Japan and the EU to build a reliable and resilient supply chain, including specific areas of cooperation such as critical minerals, and shared his views on further strengthening Japan-EU cooperation.

(3) Rules-Based Free and Fair Trade Framework
The Ministers and the Executive Vice-President confirmed that The WTO should continue to be the cornerstone of a rule-based, free and fair trading system, and shared the view to work closely between Japan and the EU toward the success of MC13.
Minister Nishimura called for further cooperation between Japan and the EU to work toward MC13 for early realization of reforms to the dispute settlement system, the substantial conclusion of the negotiations on e-commerce by the end of this year, and to address non-market policies and practices.

June 26, 2023

On June 23 (Fri.), 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the First Meeting of the Study Group for Promoting Development of Battery-Charging Infrastructure.

Background

Japan has set a goal for all sales of new passenger vehicles by 2035 to be of electrified vehicles. It will encourage both the widespread adoption of clean energy vehicles and the installation of battery chargers and other infrastructure as the twin drivers of this goal. A further target for the battery-charging infrastructure to support this is to install 150,000 battery chargers by 2030, including 30,000 units of quick battery chargers for public use.

*Note: Electrified vehicles include: electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Battery chargers are inextricably linked to the widespread adoption of electrified vehicles. METI decided to launch this study group and start discussions in order to share with stakeholders prospects for the development of battery-charging infrastructure that is highly convenient and sustainable over the medium- to long-term. These discussions will take in the potential for increasing adoption of electrified vehicles, improvements in their performance, and other factors, thereby identifying measures to be taken to solve the challenges involved.

Overview

At the first meeting of the study group on June 23, 2023, the Secretariat presented points of discussion about a roadmap for developing battery charging infrastructure. In response, members of the study group offered their opinions.

METI will conduct interviews with each of the participants and, based on these, will formulate a roadmap for developing battery charging infrastructure.

For scenes from the meeting and its accompanying materials, visit here.

Moreover, a summary of minutes of the meeting will be posted on the METI website at a later date.

June 26, 2023

On June 24 (Sat.), 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), with the support of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), held the First Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials Meeting (AZEC SOM) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Senior officials and other stakeholders of member countries came together for discussions to specify future cooperation in light of the outcomes of the AZEC Ministerial Meeting held in Japan in March 2023.

Mr. MINAMI Ryo, Deputy Commissioner and Director general for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality, and Mr. KOBAYASHI Izuru, Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, both from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, participated in the meeting as representatives of Japan. They discussed approaches to specifying AZEC’s future cooperation with the senior officials and other stakeholders of the countries that had participated in the AZEC Ministerial Meeting held in March 2023. As a special guest, H.E. Mr. Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

At the meeting, Japan explained the various support that it provided through Japanese governmental organizations under the framework of AZEC while showing its achievements and highlighting its intention anew to contribute to decarbonization in Asia. In addition, as specific measures for policy coordination, participants confirmed the implementation of efforts for [i] creation of a master plan on hydrogen and ammonia, [ii] development  of technological standards for CCS, and [iii] further promotion of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
Based on policy coordination and support, Japan will expand the market of decarbonization technologies and reduce the cost involved, thereby advancing decarbonization in Asia together with AZEC partner countries.

June 23, 2023 – Joint Press Release with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

METI hereby announces that it has decided on the venue for the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Osaka-Sakai scheduled for October 28 and 29 this year as follows.

Dates:

October 28 (Sat.) and October 29 (Sun.), 2023

Venue

Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka)

Other matters (social events)

In collaboration with the local government, the Government of Japan plans to hold a welcome reception and other social events in Sakai City.

METI will continue to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related ministries and agencies, as well as Osaka Prefecture and Sakai City, in preparations to ensure a successful meeting.

June 21, 2023

On June 21 (Wed.), 2023, in the presence of Minister Nishimura and Ambassador of the Netherlands to Japan Peter van der Vliet, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (Mr. KADOMATSU Takashi, Deputy Director General, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau and Policy Coordination) and the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy of the Netherlands (Ms. Astrid Bronswijk, Manager, Innovation and Knowledge) signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on semiconductors and other technologies.

Overview

On June 21, 2023, METI and the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy of the Netherlands signed an MOC for promoting cooperation in the field of semiconductors and other technologies.

Highlights of the MOC

• Welcoming the existing cooperation between companies in semiconductors and otherrelated technological fields, such as photonics, and also promoting cooperation among the governments, industrial players, and research institutes.
• Sharing information on the current status of policies and international collaboration.
• Seeking the potential for bilateral programs in other related fields.
• Sharing awareness of the importance of research and development projects undertaken by Rapidus Corporation.
• Promoting cooperation between the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) of Japan and the Competence Centres of the Netherlands.

June 16, 2023

On June 16, 2023, the Subcommittee on Unfair Trade Policies and Measures of the Trade Committee under the Industrial Structure Council compiled the 2023 Report on Compliance by Major Trading Partners with Trade Agreements (WTO, FTA/EPA and IIA). In response, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) decided to adopt the METI Priorities based on the 2023 Report.

Outline of the 2023 Report on Compliance by Major Trading Partners with Trade Agreements (WTO, FTA/EPA and IIA)

Since 1992, the report has been published annually in order to identify trade policies/measures of major trading partners that may be inconsistent with international rules, such as those stipulated in WTO agreements, and to urge those partners to rectify such trade policies/measures.

The 2023 edition is the 32nd in this series, and was adopted by the Subcommittee on Unfair Trade Policies and Measures of the Trade Policy Committee under the Industrial Structure Council (Chair: KIMURA Fukunari, Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University).

Outline of the METI Priorities Based on the 2023 Report

METI has also released a list of measures METI will prioritize addressing as well as responses to systemic problems (eg. non-market measures, economic coercion, the impasse of the WTO Appellate Body) in a report called “METI Priorities Based on the 2023 Report”.

June 12, 2023

On Monday, June 12, Minister Nishimura held a meeting with H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. They confirmed that the two countries will further strengthen cooperation to expand economic ties in a wide range of areas, including energy and advanced technologies.

On Monday, June 12, Minister Nishimura held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, the two ministers confirmed that they would further strengthen cooperation to expand economic ties between the two countries in a wide range of areas under the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI). These include renewable energy, clean energy and decarbonization technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia, infrastructure, space, and start-up collaboration, in addition to the conventional energy sector. Both countries confirmed that they will further strengthen their cooperative relationship.

Furthermore, in readiness for COP28, which will be presided over by the UAE this year, they agreed to collaborate on a message on realistic energy transitions as discussed in the G7 which was presided over by Japan.

May 25, 2023

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea held the 2nd Japan-Korea Energy Cooperation Dialogue on Thursday, May 25, in Busan, Korea, to introduce the energy policies of the two countries toward achieving carbon neutrality and to exchange opinions for future cooperation.

This cooperation dialogue was established in 2018 as a forum to introduce and exchange views on the respective energy policy trends of Japan and Korea.

As both Japan and Korea are moving forward with carbon neutrality by 2050, the 2nd Cooperation Dialogue was held on Thursday, May 25 in Busan, Korea, and was attended by Mr. Minami Ryo, Deputy Commissioner for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality from METI, and Mr. Lee Wonju, Director General for Energy Policy from MOTIE of Korea. They introduced the energy policies of the two countries and exchanged views on future cooperation in new energy fields such as hydrogen and ammonia.

May 16, 2023

Tuesday, May 16, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Satomi received a courtesy call from H.E. Tarar, Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan.

During the meeting, Parliamentary Vice-Minister　Satomi congratulated the ambassador on his appointment, and then they exchanged views on the prospects for political and economic stabilization in Pakistan and improvement of its business environment. They agreed to continue working together to strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Pakistan.

April 14, 2023

For three days on April 10, 12 and 13, 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) held a Japan-Korea Export Control Policy Dialogue.

For three days on April 10, 12 and 13, 2023, METI and MOTIE held a Japan-Korea Export Control Policy Dialogue.

In this policy dialogue, METI and MOTIE exchanged views on overall approaches to advancing a series of policy dialogues, and METI also reviewed the current state of operation of the list control and the catch-all control and the effectiveness thereof in the ROK, including verification through comparison with Japan’s operation.

Moreover, the two sides agreed to hold the next Japan-Korea Export Control Policy Dialogue for three days from April 18 to 20, 2023, in the ROK.