- Home
- News Releases
- Back Issues
- December FY2022
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nagamine Attends WTO-related (Ottawa Group) Ministerial Meeting via Video Conference
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nagamine Attends WTO-related (Ottawa Group) Ministerial Meeting via Video Conference
December 19, 2022
On December 16 (Fri.), a WTO-related (Ottawa Group) Ministerial Meeting, consisting of like-minded members, was held via video conference, and Mr. Nagamine Makoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended the meeting. During the meeting, participants exchanged views on topics such as WTO reform and how to proceed towards the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13). The participating members also confirmed that they will continue to work together closely.
1. Overview of the meeting
- On December 16 （Fri.）, an Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting was held under the leadership of Canada as its chair. Mr. Nagamine Makoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mr. Namazu Hiroyuki, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended this meeting as representatives of Japan. During the meeting, participants exchanged views on topics such as WTO reform and how to proceed towards the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference （MC13）. The Ottawa Group was inaugurated in 2018, bringing together like-minded WTO members* proactive in WTO reform. Since the spread of COVID-19, the group has continued to advance discussions among the like-minded members, including compiling proposals on approaches to secure access to medical supplies.
* Participants （14 countries and regions）:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the EU, Japan, Kenya, the ROK, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the EU, Japan, Kenya, the ROK, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK
2. Comments
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nagamine spoke about the WTO's negotiation function, welcoming the steady progress of the various Joint Statement Initiatives （JSIs） since the 12th Ministerial Meeting （MC12）, including negotiations on e-commerce and investment facilitation. He expressed his strong support for an early conclusion of the JSI on E-commerce, which Japan co-chairs with Australia and Singapore. He also expressed his intention to hold discussions with like-minded members on efforts to secure a level playing field.
- On the WTO's monitoring function, he confirmed the importance of continuing to cooperate so that all countries can carry out their reporting duties.
- On dispute settlement system reform, he stated that Japan will make every effort to restore the WTO's dispute settlement functions by 2024, as per members’ commitment at MC12. Many participating countries supported his statement. He also mentioned that it is necessary to consider appropriate actions considering that reforms would take time.
- Furthermore, he expressed his intention to make a concerted effort toward gaining support, in particular from developing countries, to realize the permanent extension of the multilateral moratorium on levying customs duties on electronic transmissions at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.
Division in Charge
Multilateral Trade System Department, Trade Policy Bureau