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METI Minister Nishimura Visits Switzerland

Japanese

January 20, 2023

External Economic Policy

From January 17 (Tue.) to 21 (Sat.), Mr. Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, visited Davos, Switzerland. He attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 and an informal WTO Ministerial Meeting, in addition to other meetings, including discussions with ministers and representatives from the business community.

1. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (January 18 (Wed.) and 19 (Thu.))

Minister Nishimura participated as a panelist in the following two sessions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023.

(1) Japan's Path to Economic Revival

Minister Nishimura spoke about new industrial policies and other initiatives aimed at revitalizing Japan's economy. For a video of the panel and an overview of the event, please see the World Economic Forum page here.Link

(2) Country Strategy Dialogue on Japan

Minister Nishimura addressed in economic and industrial policies in 2023, including a range of trade, digital, energy and climate change-related challenges.

In connection with the meeting, Minister Nishimura also participated in the following events.

(1) Japan Night Davos 2023

At the Japan Night, an event that communicated the charming aspects of Japan to the world, Minister Nishimura delivered his remarks and expressed that the many participating Japanese companies will work with the public and private sectors to revitalize Japan's economy.

(2) Event hosted by Palantir Technologies

Minister Nishimura participated in a session called "Innovation and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific " that was moderated by Dr. Kenneth R. Weinstein, former president and chief executive officer of Hudson Institute. During the session, Minister Nishimura discussed with Mr. Seth Moulton, Member of the House of Representatives, Ms. Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament, and Mr. Matthew Turpin, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution.

2. WTO-related meetings (January 19 (Thu.) and 20 (Fri.))

(1) Ministerial-level conversation hosted by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO

Minister Nishimura attended a ministerial-level conversation hosted by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, in which he exchanged views and shared common perspectives with various members regarding the path to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) and initiatives related to trade and climate.

(2) Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate

Minister Nishimura attended the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate hosted by the four countries and regions including the EU.*1 A joint statement was issued by 27 participating countries and regions*2 regarding items that should be tackled with the highest priority in order to contribute to measures against climate change from the perspective of trade (For more information on the joint statement click here).

Note 1: The meeting was hosted by the EU, Ecuador, Kenya, and New Zealand
Note 2: Participants (27 countries and regions): Angola, Australia, Barbados, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the EU, the Gambia, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Maldives, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, Ukraine, the UK, the United States, Vanuatu, and Zambia

(3) Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting

Minister Nishimura attended a Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting hosted by Canada, in which participants exchanged views on how to achieve the goal of a well-functioning WTO dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024, identifying priorities toward MC13, and strengthening collaboration with WTO members that are not in the group.

(4) WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce: Ministerial Breakfast Meeting

Minister Nishimura co-chaired a ministerial meeting on the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce with Ms. Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information of Singapore, and Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade of Australia. During the meeting, the co-convenors demonstrated their commitment to work towards a substantial conclusion by the end of 2023, which was supported by many participating members. The co-convenors issued a statement after the meeting. (For more information on the co-convenors' statement, click here)

(5) WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting hosted by Switzerland

During the informal WTO Ministerial Meeting hosted by Switzerland, participating members discussed priorities for MC13 and the process toward achieving them in order to strengthen the rules-based multilateral free trading system.

3. Exchanges of views with ministers and stakeholders (January 18 (Wed.) to 20 (Fri.))

(1) Ministerial meeting between Japan, the United States, and the EU

Minister Nishimura held a meeting with Ms. Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, and Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. They confirmed the continued close cooperation among the trade ministers of Japan, the U.S., and the EU, as in the previous year, and exchanged views on a wide range of trade-related issues with a view to discussions during this year's G7 Japan Presidency.

(2) Meeting with Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for International Trade of the United Kingdom

The two ministers exchanged views on high-priority challenges regarding the G7 Trade Ministers' Meeting, which will be held in Japan this year, and shared directions regarding responses to economic coercion and non-market measures. They also exchanged views on the UK's accession to CPTPP, and confirmed that Japan and the UK will cooperate for a better international economy.

(3) Meeting with Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom

The two ministers exchanged views on promoting partnerships between Japanese and the UK companies and on high-priority challenges regarding the G7 Trade Ministers' Meeting, which will be held in Japan this year. They also confirmed that they will strengthen economic relations between Japan and the UK and cooperate in multilateral efforts.

 

(4) Meeting with Mr. Julio José Prado, Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment, and Fisheries of Ecuador

The two ministers deepened discussions on the importance of cooperation toward strengthening economic relations between Japan and Ecuador from the viewpoint of promoting trade and investment and diversifying resource supply sources between both countries.

(5) Meeting with Mr. Mike Henry, CEO of BHP

They held discussions on the possibility of partnerships with Japanese companies regarding critical mineral resources, such as nickel, that are necessary for producing storage batteries.

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