State Minister Ogushi Visits the Republic of Korea

1. APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting

The APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting was held in Jeju Island, Korea, chaired by H.E. Mr. Cheong Inkyo, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea, the host economy in 2025. State Minister Ogushi represented the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in the meeting. (Mr. Miyaji Takuma, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)

In the meeting, participants held proactive discussions focusing on AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation, Connectivity through Multilateral Trading System, and Prosperity through Sustainable Trade.

The main remarks made by State Minister Ogushi were as follows:

• In order to lower trade costs and increase the resilience of supply chains in the APEC region, Japan will work to facilitate the interconnection of trade platforms and the digitalization of trade procedures, while giving support to promising startups engaging in such digitalization. Japan also welcomes participation in Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan by APEC countries.
• For the maintenance and enhancement of the rules-based multilateral trading system, Japan will commit to WTO reform, including Dispute Settlement (DS) reform, collaboration with APEC economies for an extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and ensuring a level playing field.
• In order to increase the resilience of supply chains, Japan will build win-win relations with economies on the supply side, give more support to companies in the private sector for their overseas business expansion, and provide insurance that covers the financing risks posed by foreign trade in projects that contribute to greater supply chain resilience.
• Japan will contribute to developing quality infrastructure through the efforts of peer review and capacity building involving legal systems related to such infrastructure. Japan also welcomes the revision of the APEC Investment Facilitation Action Plan.

As outcome documents of the meeting, a joint statement and a statement of the chair were issued.

2. Bilateral meetings and other events during the APEC MRT Meeting

State Minister Ogushi exchanged views on cooperation in making the ministerial meeting successful as well as on bilateral economic relations with H.E. Mr. Cheong Inkyo, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea, and other representatives from each economy.

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Cheong Inkyo, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea

State Minister Ogushi held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Cheong Inkyo, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea, the host economy in 2025. The state minister said that Japan would cooperate with the host economy for the success of APEC, and the two sides confirmed that they would further promote bilateral cooperation in 2025, which marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-ROK relations.

(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Todd McClay, Minister for Trade, New Zealand

State Minister Ogushi confirmed that Japan would cooperate with New Zealand in the trade field through the WTO, CPTPP and other forums, and the two sides exchanged views on how to respond to the current international economic environment.

(3) Meeting with Mr. Luis Rosendo Gutierrez Romano, Vice Minister for Foreign Trade of the United Mexican States

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral economic collaboration in new fields, such as digital transformation (DX), green transformation (GX) and startups, and on the improvement of the business environment for companies.

(4) Meeting with Mr. Li Chenggang, Vice Minister of Commerce of China

State Minister Ogushi urged China to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China, promptly resume imports of Japanese aquatic products, and appropriately operate China’s export control measures. The two sides confirmed that they would continue to engage in close communication with each other.

(5) Meeting with Mr. Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong

State Minister Ogushi confirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening Japan-Hong Kong economic relations and called for the immediate lifting of import restrictions on Japanese food products.

Related Materials

• 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement(PDF:160KB)
• 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement of the Chair(PDF:104KB)

Division in Charge

APEC Office, Trade Policy Bureau