Home
News Releases
Back Issues
May FY2022
Minister Hagiuda Attends the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting

Minister Hagiuda Attends the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting

May 22, 2022

Mr. Hagiuda Koichi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, visited Bangkok, Thailand and attended the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT) held there on May 21 and 22.
He exchanged views on multilateral and bilateral economic relations and cooperating toward making the meeting a success with H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and other representatives from each economy.

1. APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting

The APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting was held in Bangkok, chaired by H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce. Mr. Hagiuda Koichi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, participated from METI and Mr. Miyake Shingo, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated from MOFA.

The ministers and industry representatives from each economy covered the following focal themes in the meeting: post-COVID-19 FTAAP, support for multilateral trade systems, and post-COVID-19 trade and sustainable growth. The discussions were deep and spirited.

The main remarks made by Minister Hagiuda were as follows:

He condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a completely unacceptable violation of international law. Given the major impact that skyrocketing resource and food prices are having on the global economy's recovery from COVID-19, he urged that no effort be spared to restore order to the international community by legal means as soon as possible.
He emphasized Japan's stance of pursuing a range of goals, including through "co-creation" with Asia via the Asia-Japan Investing for the Future Initiative (AJIF) and Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI), with a view toward recovery from COVID-19 and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region towards:

Achieving energy security and the transition to clean energy;
Making supply chains more resilient; and
Overcoming social issues.

He stated that he regards the following as essential: supporting WTO MC12 to ensure its success; and restoring the WTO's functions. He emphasized that building a free and fair economic order in the Asia-Pacific region was also among the reasons why action must be progressively taken to rectify market-distorting measures and economic coercion.

2. Bilateral meetings and other events during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting

Minister Hagiuda exchanged views on bilateral economic relations and cooperating toward making the meeting a success with H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, the Hon. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and other representatives from each economy.

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand

Minister Hagiuda had a meeting with the chair of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand. The two leaders expressed their shared understanding regarding how important unity in APEC and a successful MRT are for achieving a sustainable and robust post-COVID-19 economic recovery. They also talked about Japan's efforts based on the Asia-Japan Investing for the Future Initiative, and about RCEP, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), other trade issues, promoting bilateral economic cooperation, and cooperation on developing human resources through technical colleges.

(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy the Kingdom of Thailand

In this meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on matters including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and speeding up the transition to clean energy with a view toward simultaneously strengthening energy security and achieving carbon neutrality. Minister Hagiuda said he wanted to cooperate toward achieving the "Asia zero emissions community" vision, and the two agreed to do so.

(3) Meeting with the Hon. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

In a bilateral meeting with the Hon. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Minister Hagiuda exchanged views with her on cooperation between Japan and Canada on the CPTPP, on reforming the WTO, and on energy, taking into account the situation in Ukraine.

(4) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia

Minister Hagiuda exchanged views with Indonesia’s Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi on trade policy matters such as those concerning G20 and RCEP, as well as: Japan's efforts toward strengthening bilateral economic relations between their two countries based on the Asia-Japan Investing for the Future Initiative; a wide range of individual industrial policies towards improving the business environment in Indonesia; and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

(5) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry

Minister Hagiuda exchanged views with Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong on trade policy matters such as CPTPP and RCEP, as well as on: Japan's efforts toward strengthening bilateral economic relations between their two countries based on the Asia-Japan Investing for the Future Initiative; cooperation on energy; and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

(6) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the Secretary-General of ASEAN

Minister Hagiuda exchanged views with H.E. Mr. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, on efforts toward further deepening relations between ASEAN and Japan to mark the 50th anniversary of friendship and cooperation between them coming up in 2023. They also confirmed that Japan and the ASEAN Secretariat will work together closely toward goals including the full implementation of the RCEP Agreement and hastening progress toward realistic energy transitions in line with each country's particular circumstances.

(7) Meeting with Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah , Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei

Minister Hagiuda had a bilateral meeting with Minister Amin in which they exchanged views on the CPTPP, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and bilateral economic relations. The two ministers also confirmed that relations between their countries would be deepened to mark the 50th anniversary of friendship and cooperation between Japan and ASEAN coming up in 2023.

(8) Meeting with Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont, Chairman of CP

The CP Group is Thailand's largest conglomerate, with a diverse range of businesses that includes food, retail, and telecommunications. Minister Hagiuda met with its Senior Chairman, Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont, and exchanged views with him on what direction cooperation between Japanese and ASEAN companies should take.

3. Joint media release

After the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Trade, Japan, along with Australia, Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States, issued a following joint media release condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Please see below for details.

Joint Media Release on the Occasion of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (May 23, 2022)News Release

Division in Charge

APEC Office, Trade Policy Bureau

Related website

APEC