State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nakatani’s Official Visit to France

1. Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (June 7 (Wed.) and 8 (Thur.))

This year's meeting was held under the presidency of the United Kingdom with the theme of "Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships." From METI, State Minister Nakatani participated to present Japan's initiatives as the nation holding the G7 Presidency, centering on its achievement in the G7 in relation to trade, digitalization, climate change and energy, and other issues.

• Photo at the Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level
• A scene from the session 3 on "Economic Resilience"

2. OECD Global Forum on Technology (June 6 (Tue.))

On the occasion of the Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level, an inaugural event of the OECD Global Forum on Technology was held. At the session with the theme of "emerging technologies to address climate change and foster resilient societies," State Minister Nakatani emphasized the importance of dealing with climate change and other global issues and strongly promoting innovation by fully utilizing emerging technologies, based on this year's achievements by the G7.

3. Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (June 8 (Thur.))

The Ministerial Meeting on the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity was held under the presidency of Canada. It was recognized that the worsening trend of global crude steel excess capacity constitutes a major threat to the long-term and healthy development of steel industries and global cooperation is important for tackling this issue. The meeting adopted a ministerial statement emphasizing the importance of global cooperation to address steel excess capacity and expressing members' commitments to working towards expanded membership and strengthened global cooperation. For the details of the ministerial statement, see the website of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC).

4. WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering hosted by Australia (June 7 (Wed.)) and Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting hosted by Canada (June 8 (Thur.))

Australia hosted the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering, and Canada hosted the Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting consisting of like-minded members. Discussions focused on how to promote WTO reform. Participants exchanged views chiefly on topics such as concrete processes for effectively utilizing the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held next February as an opportunity to express their political will, with the aim of restoring the WTO's dispute settlement function, and the role of the Ottawa Group in this regard.

• WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering hosted by Australia
• Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting hosted by Canada

5. IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, Ministerial Roundtable (June 8 (Thur.))

The IEA held its 8th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency. State Minister Nakatani participated in the Ministerial roundtable. As energy efficiency is becoming more and more important for balancing global decarbonization and energy security, State Minister Nakatani introduced the achievements in the G7 under Japan’s Presidency, Japan's efforts on energy efficiency combining regulations and supportive measures, and Japan's excellent heat pump technology. He also pointed out the importance of standards and rules for comparing energy efficiency performance.

For the adopted ministerial statement, click here.

6. Exchange of views with ministers, etc. of G7 member countries (June 6 (Tue.) and 8 (Thur.))

(1) Talk with Ms. Chloe Smith, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the UK

Regarding the OECD Global Forum on Technology, for which an inaugural event was held, State Minister Nakatani and Secretary of State Smith exchanged views on future global cooperation, while referring to emerging technologies that were discussed at the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting held this year.

(2) Talk with Mr. Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the UK

In light of the achievement of the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo, State Minister Nakatani and Secretary of State Shapps confirmed both countries' commitments to promoting collaboration with relevant nations and facilitating bilateral cooperation regarding clean energy, such as renewable energy and nuclear energy.

• Talk with Mr. Grant Shapps, UK Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • H.E. Mr. Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary-General
  • Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director

Related Material

• 2023 MINISTERIAL COUNCIL STATEMENT(PDF:1,337KB)

Divisions in Charge

• Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level
  International Economic Affairs Division, Trade Policy Bureau

• WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering, Ottawa Group Ministerial Meeting
  Multilateral Trade System Department, Trade Policy Bureau

• OECD Global Forum on Technology, Exchange of views with Ms. Chloe Smith, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the UK
  International Affairs Office, Policy Planning and Coordination Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau

• Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity
  Metal Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau

• IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, Exchange of views with Mr. Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the UK
  International Affairs Division, Commissioner's Secretariat, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy