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September FY2023
METI Minister Nishimura Signs Memorandum of Cooperation Concerning Battery Supply Chains with Canada

METI Minister Nishimura Signs Memorandum of Cooperation Concerning Battery Supply Chains with Canada

September 22, 2023

Manufacturing, Information, and Distribution/Service Policy

On September 21, 2023, Mr. Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, signed a memorandum of cooperation concerning battery supply chains, together with H.E. Mr. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, H.E. Ms. Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and H.E. Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Canada, together with Mr. Yamanouchi Kanji, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada, Japan.

1. Overview

On September 21 (Thur.), 2023, Minister Nishimura signed a comprehensive memorandum of cooperation concerning battery supply chains from upstream to downstream, together with Minister Champagne, Minister Ng, Minister Wilkinson, and Ambassador Yamanouchi. This was the first time in Japan's history for it to sign a memorandum of cooperation concerning battery supply chains, and Canada is the first country in the world with which Japan has signed such a memorandum of cooperation. Based on this MOC, Japan intends to facilitate the entry of Japanese companies into Canada and aims to establish sustainable and reliable battery supply chains between Japan and Canada.

In the presence of the ministers of Japan and Canada, some private companies signed the following agreements.

2. Key points of the MOC

Based on this MOC, Japan and Canada will cooperate in the following areas in order to establish sustainable and reliable battery supply chains from the perspective of carbon neutrality and economic security.

Promoting existing public support in both countries for investment and other efforts in Canada by Japanese companies;
Promoting mutual understanding between Japanese companies and relevant regulatory authorities in Canada;
Promoting the establishment of meaningful relationships between Japanese companies and indigenous peoples in Canada;
Collaboration in times of emergency in battery supply chains, including with respect to critical minerals;
Promoting the use of renewable energy in battery supply chains;
Discussing international standards, such as those on carbon footprint calculation; etc.