Minister Muto Holds Meeting with Mr. Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Attends Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Ishiba; Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kato Accompanies Executive Vice-President Séjourné on a Visit to the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

1. Meeting between Minister Muto and Executive Vice-President Séjourné

On Tuesday, September 16, Minister Muto held a meeting with Executive Vice-President Séjourné of the European Commission. At the meeting, both sides confirmed to continue to work together to promote cooperation across a wide range of industrial sectors to strengthen the competitiveness of both Japan and the EU, under the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance launched at the 30th Japan-EU Summit. They welcomed the swift progress in the cooperation, including the signing of an MOU between Japanese and EU battery-related industry organizations and the signing of an MOC on promoting startups in the GX sector, both of which will serve as the basis for future cooperation.

They also shared the recognition of the benefit of growing together, including by promoting private partnerships and investment opportunities. To this end, both sides discussed the potential to deepen appropriate policy cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of sectors, including critical minerals and rechargeable batteries. They reaffirmed the importance of establishing resilient supply chains, including by considering non-price criteria, and confirmed their intention to continue discussion towards maintaining a rule-based free and fair economic order. They also welcomed the expanded high-level dialogue as outlined in the 30th Japan-EU Summit and reaffirmed their commitment to hold the dialogue as early as possible.

Following the meeting, a joint press release by Minister Muto and Executive Vice-President Séjourné was issued.

Joint press release by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji and Executive vice-president of the European Commission for industrial strategy and prosperity Stéphane Séjourné

2. Signing Ceremony for an MOC among EU’s EIT InnoEnergy, Japan’s GX Acceleration Agency, and JETRO

At the beginning of the meeting between Minister Muto and Executive Vice-President Séjourné on Tuesday, September 16, a signing ceremony was held for an MOC between InnoEnergy (supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)), Japan’s GX Acceleration Agency and JETRO on promoting startups in the GX sector. Minister Muto and Executive Vice- President Séjourné witnessed the ceremony.

3. Attendance at the Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Ishiba made by representatives of EU Companies Accompanying Executive Vice-President Séjourné

On Tuesday, September 16, Minister Muto attended the courtesy call on Prime Minister Ishiba made by Executive Vice-President Séjourné, representatives of EU companies accompanying him, and representatives of Japanese companies. At the meeting, he was reported on the progress of cooperation by the attending Japanese and EU companies and confirmed his intention to promote concrete cooperation among Japanese and EU companies and relevant organizations toward the implementation of the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance.

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Source:Official Website of the Prime Minister's Office

4. Minister Muto’s Attendance at the Signing Ceremony for an MOU between Japanese and EU Battery-Related Industry Associations

On Monday, September 15 (a national holiday), Minister Muto attended the signing ceremony for an MOU between Japanese and EU battery-related industry organizations, held at the Panasonic Energy Suminoe Factory in Osaka Prefecture, together with Executive Vice-President Séjourné.

Minister Muto welcomed the signing of this MOU as a first step toward concrete cooperation under the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance launched between the leaders of Japan and of the EU, and expressed his anticipation that the signing of the MOU will serve as an opportunity to further advance cooperation in the battery industry toward establishing resilient supply chains.

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5. A tour of the Japan Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, provided by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kato

On Monday, September 15, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kato welcomed Executive Vice-President Séjourné at the Japan Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. They exchanged views on the need for collaboration to accelerate the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance, and Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kato provided a tour of the Japan Pavilion.

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6. Business Roundtables for the Fields of Minerals and Biotechnology

On Tuesday, September 16, METI, together with the European Commission, held business roundtables (matchmaking events) for companies in the fields of critical minerals and bioindustry. With opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Séjourné, the following Japanese companies participated and exchanged views with EU companies visiting Japan on future collaboration.

Participating Japanese companies (in the order of the Japanese syllabary)

Business roundtable for the minerals sector

Iwatani Corporation
Sumitomo CorporationSojitz Corporation
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Marubeni Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation RtM Japan Ltd.
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
Mitsui& Co., Ltd.
Hanwa Co., Ltd.

Business roundtable for the bioindustry sector

Oji Holdings Corporation
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Japan Bioindustry Association

Participating EU companies (In order of the alphabet)

Business roundtable for the minerals sector

Carester
Iberian Resources Spain, S.L.
Mkango Resources Ltd.
Savannah Resources Plc.

Business roundtable for the bioindustry

AustroCel Hallein GmbH
21st. BIO

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Divisions in Charge

• For Items 1, 3, and 5

  Europe Division, Trade Policy Bureau

• For Item 2

  Environmental Finance Office, GX Policy Group

• For Item 4

  Battery Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau

• For Item 6

  Mineral Resources Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, and Bio-Industry Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group