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- Minister Muto Attends the Sixth Japan-EU High Level Economic Dialogue
Minister Muto Attends the Sixth Japan-EU High Level Economic Dialogue
May 8, 2025
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Sixth Japan-EU High-level Economic Dialogue was held. It was attended by Mr. Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mr. Iwaya Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, from the Japanese side, and by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner (for Trade and Economic Security) from the EU side.
Minister Muto and Minister Iwaya from the Japanese side and Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, European Commission, who is visiting Japan on the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, attended the dialogue from the EU side.
The Ministers discussed (1) the geopolitical situation (trade), (2) economic security, and (3) future collaboration.
1. Geopolitical situation (trade)
The Ministers exchanged their views on the significant challenges that the global economic order is now facing. They also reaffirmed the importance of Japan-EU cooperation to uphold the free and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. They also shared their commitment to working toward the necessary reforms of the WTO to improve all its functions.
2. Economic security
The Ministers stressed the importance of cooperation among like-minded partners in ensuring economic security. They also expressed concerns over non-market policies and practices and overcapacity resulting from them, and confirmed their cooperation in enhancing supply-chain resilience. Moreover, The Ministers welcomed the substantial progress achieved under the “Transparent, Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative,” especially coordinated efforts on criteria that take into account not only economic factors, but also factors linked to the principles of transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, and trustworthiness and reliability. In addition, they concurred to continue cooperation on strengthening and diversifying critical minerals supply chains, and promoting and protecting critical and emerging technologies. On top of that, they committed to enhancing their cooperation with like-minded partners, including through the G7, as well as engaging with emerging markets and developing countries.
3. Future collaboration
The Ministers underlined the importance of strengthening the Japan-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue for further Japan-EU cooperation.
Launched at the Japan-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue of May 2, 2024, to coordinate and advance their efforts on policies for building more transparent, resilient and sustainable supply chains. Under this initiative, Japan and the EU have discussed the approach to the criteria that take into account not only economic factors, but also factors linked to the principles of transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, and trustworthiness and reliability, and coordination with like-minded countries, among others.
Division in Charge
Europe Division, Trade Policy Bureau