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Director-General, Trade and Economic Security Bureau

FUKUNAGA Tetsuro

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Mr. Fukunaga Tetsuro has been serving as the Director-General of the Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau and the Director-General for Economic Security Policy since July 2023. In these senior roles at METI, Mr. Fukunaga oversees policy initiatives in areas such as trade control, investment promotion and economic security.

Immediately prior to his current appointments, Mr. Fukunaga served as Director-General for Trade Policy of the Trade Policy Bureau. In this role, he was instrumental in planning and implementing Japan’s trade strategies amid the changing dynamics of globalization. He also played a leadership role in discussions to enhance free and fair trade and strengthen economic security as part of efforts to ensure successful outcomes for the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023. Mr. Fukunaga was also assigned to Japan’s newly formed Digital Agency where he focused on promoting international collaboration in digital policies. Also in this role, Mr. Fukunaga was also involved in cooperation for reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

Between 2020 and 2022, Mr. Fukunaga served as the Director-General for Trade Policy of the Minister's Secretariat (Manufacturing Industries Bureau), participating in the formulation of strategies for green transformation in the auto and materials industries to promote carbon neutrality. He also initiated discussions on enhancing resilience and promoting digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. Meanwhile Mr. Fukunaga played a leadership role in discussions with the U.S. about the application of Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Act on steel and aluminum.

In his position as the Director-General for International Cyber Economy Policy, Mr. Fukunaga launched international data strategies, including the “Data Free Flow with Trust” concept, an outcome of the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, as well as the “Asia Digital Transformation (ADX)” project for co-creation of innovation with other Asian nations.

Earlier in his career at METI, Mr. Fukunaga assumed several posts with a focus on international economic policy.

As the Director of the APEC Office, he supported Japan’s hosting of the APEC-Japan 2010 Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Yokohama. In a subsequent post as the Counsellor of the Cabinet Secretariat (National Strategy Office), Mr. Fukunaga was involved in accelerating domestic discussions on Japan’s accession to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). He was also engaged in formulating new energy strategies after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Then Mr. Fukunaga served as the first Director of the Southwest Asia Office, with responsibilities for industrial cooperation and infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region in 2012.

Overseas, he served as the Director-General of Brussels Office of the Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment (JMC), from 2013 to 2017 where he promoted Japan-EU strategic cooperation, including the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Mr. Fukunaga started his career at METI in 1991. A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics, he earned a master’s degree (MBA) from Emory University in the U.S. Mr. Fukunaga was born in Kagoshima city on August 9, 1968.

Last updated:2024-08-26