Minister Muto Visits the Republic of Korea

1．Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting between the ROK, Japan and the People’s Republic of China

The Thirteenth Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting among the ROK, Japan and the People’s Republic of China was held in Seoul, the ROK, being chaired by Minister Ahn. From the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister Muto participated in the meeting.

At this meeting, the ministers discussed multilateral cooperation including economic partnership as well as practical cooperation for the improvement of the business environment and other goals and made a Joint Media Statement (as attached).

The main remarks made by Minister Muto were as follows:

• Japan will work to maintain and enhance the rules-based international economic order through the WTO and economic partnership agreements, because the international environment is changing and becoming unstable.
• It is important to ensure the transparent and steady implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Also, for the trilateral FTA, Japan will keep discussions for speeding up negotiations while also addressing a range of economic challenges with a view to realizing a high-quality mutually beneficial FTA beyond the framework of the RCEP Agreement.
• To improve the business environment, it is important to address issues such as excessive competition by ensuring the provision of a level playing field with transparency and predictability. Further, Japan will foster measures to enhance the resilience of supply chains, including working for the appropriate operation of export control systems and promoting local-level cooperation.

2．Bilateral Meetings

1. Meeting with H.E. Mr. Ahn Dukgeun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, the ROK

Minister Muto had his first meeting since his inauguration with Minister Ahn. At the meeting, he welcomed the fact that bilateral cooperation had been progressing in energy and other industrial fields, and the two sides agreed on the continual enhancement of this cooperation.

Moreover, given that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the Japan-ROK relations, they agreed that the two countries would closely cooperate for the successful organization of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as well as for the successful hosting of APEC 2025 by the ROK.

2. Meeting with H.E. Mr. Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, China

Minister Muto stated the extreme importance of ensuring the security of company staff involved in business in China and securing a transparent and fair business environment, and strongly requested China to ensure safety for Japanese people in the country, the appropriate operation of China’s export control measures, and the correction of its preferential treatment of domestic products. Moreover, appreciating the steady implementation of the announcements made by their respective governments regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and China’s import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, Minister Muto called for the early restoration of imports of such products.

The two ministers appraised the steady implementation of the fourth meeting of the Japan-China Export Control Dialogue and the Second Japan-China Service Trade Policy Dialogue and welcomed the organization within 2025 of the second meeting of the Japan-China Business Environment Facilitation Working Group in Japan and the 18th Japan-China Energy Conservation and Environment Forum in China. Moreover, the two sides agreed to cooperate closely for the success of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. They also exchanged opinions about private economic cooperation in markets in third countries.

Further, the ministers agreed to utilize a variety of opportunities to meet regularly for close communication.

Related Material

• Joint Media Statement of the Thirteenth Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting between the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People’s Republic of China(PDF:151KB)

Division in Charge

Northeast Asia Division, Trade Policy Bureau