State Minister Koga Visits the Republic of South Africa

1．G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting

(1) Overview

On Friday, October 10, the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting was held in Gqeberha in South Africa, the host of the meeting and this year's G20 presidency. State Minister Koga attended this meeting for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (Mr. Fujii Hisayuki, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in the event for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)

At the meeting, active discussions took place under three themes.

(1) Trade and inclusive growth and addressing global challenges
(2) Trade and investment for green industrialization and sustainable development
(3) WTO reform and the development dimension

Following the discussions, the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Statement was issued as an outcome document.

(2) Summary of remarks

The following shows the summary of remarks made by State Minister Koga in the respective sessions.

Trade and investment for green industrialization and sustainable development

• It is essential to make effective use of a range of technologies and energy sources from the perspectives of (1) reducing greenhouse gas emissions while achieving economic growth and development and (2) giving consideration to the situation of each country and energy security.
• Delays in decarbonization measures could cause exclusion from global supply chains and finance, and decarbonization measures have a direct impact on the industrial competitiveness of all countries.
• In line with its trade policy, Japan is working for (1) the global deployment of decarbonization technologies and cooperation for such technologies (through agreement with the ambitious principles of the Asia Zero Emission Community [AZEC] and implementation of more than 350 cooperation projects) and (2) the earlier achievement of specific results for the formulation of rules (through the Non-Binding Guidance on Methodologies for Measuring Embedded Emissions, which Japan submitted to the WTO as a co-sponsor) and expects support for it from the G20 countries.
• Regarding hydrogen, it is important that as many countries as possible become consumers of hydrogen to create demand, thereby increasing its cost competitiveness. Alongside initiatives to decarbonize steel and chemical plants and to meet environmental requirements of global companies, it is important to foster the transition towards decarbonization in power generation which is necessary in all countries around the world, including thermal power generation. With members of the G20, we will cooperate towards global demand creation for the establishment of a global hydrogen supply chain.

WTO reform and the development dimension

• Concerns over excessive protectionism have been rising. Under these circumstances it is important to increase the functionality of the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. Also, to ensure predictability for businesses, it is necessary to speed up measures to enhance all functions of the WTO.
• It is necessary to incorporate the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO legal framework as early as possible and to achieve the renewal and permanent extension of the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions.
• In order to ensure a level playing field, appropriate responses should be made to the enhancement of regulations and non-market policies and practices.
• It is important to ensure rules-based dispute settlement during the period until the dispute settlement system is reformed.
• The G20 countries need to enhance their solidarity and show their strong commitment to WTO reform ahead of the WTO Ministerial Conference.

2．Informal Gathering of WTO Ministers

On Thursday, October 9, participants in this informal meeting held discussions on the enhancement of the multilateral trading system and the reforms to be carried out at the WTO, with Mr. Mpho Parks Franklyn Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, serving as chairperson, and with the participation of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr. Petter Olberg, Norwegian Ambassador to Switzerland (facilitator on WTO reform), and other ministers. State Minister Koga called for the reaffirmation of the roles that had been played by the rules-based multilateral trading system as well as the role of the WTO as the infrastructure for the system. Concerning necessary reforms, he referred to the early integration of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO legal framework, appropriate responses to trade and environment, and other current issues, and rules-based dispute settlement.

3．Ministerial Meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity

On Friday, October 10, participants in this meeting, chaired by the Commonwealth of Australia, held discussions on the global steel excess capacity and how to address this issue, which is becoming more serious. State Minister Koga expressed concerns over the dramatic increase in the number of trade remedy actions taken by countries against the backdrop of excess capacity, which would cause steel materials to be pushed out and further disrupt the market. Mr. Koga also emphasized the importance of sharing experience about the effectiveness of trade remedy actions among countries and implementing cooperative measures under multilateral frameworks such as the GFSEC and insisted on the need for GFSEC members to enhance their collaboration.

At the end of this meeting, participating ministers adopted a ministerial statement to begin examinations to develop the foundation for a comprehensive framework for joint action, enhance monitoring activities with a particular focus on nonmarket policies and practices outside the GFSEC membership, share information regarding trade actions and their effectiveness among GFSEC members, and to intensify outreach efforts to expand GFSEC membership.

4．Bilateral Meetings

During his visit to South Africa, State Minister Koga held meetings and exchanged views on bilateral economic relations and the importance of maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system with the Honourable Mr. Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth of Australia; Mr. Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India; Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada; Mr. Li Chenggang, International Trade Representative with the Ministry of Commerce and Vice Minister of Commerce of China; Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye; Mr. Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa; and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of UAE.

(1) Exchange of opinions with Mr. Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia

State Minister Koga expressed his gratitude to the chairperson of the GFSEC for his leadership, and the two sides exchanged views on collaboration for the maintenance and enhancement of the multilateral trading system mainly based on the WTO rules as well as on the CPTPP and collaboration in the resource and energy fields.

(2) Exchange of opinions with Mr. Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of bilateral economic coooperation, and State Minister Koga asked for support for the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO legal framework and for the extension of the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions.

(3) Exchange of opinions with Mr. Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada

State Minister Koga asked for the appropriate implementation of the steel import regulations by Canada, and the two sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in the supply chain of critical minerals.

(4) Exchange of opinions with Mr. Li Chenggang, International Trade Representative with the Ministry of Commerce and Vice Minister of Commerce of China

State Minister Koga urged the improvement of the business environment, appropriate implementation of China’s export control measures, and the lifting of the import restrictions imposed on aquatic products from the remaining 10 prefectures of Japan, and the two sides agreed to foster close communication going forward.

(5) Exchange of opinions with the Mr. Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye

The two sides exchanged views on measures to accelerate negotiations for the Japan-Türkiye Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Also, State Minister Koga invited Türkiye to participate in International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama, Japan.

(6) Exchange of opinions with Mr. Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa

State Minister Koga thanked Minister Tau for his leadership as the chairperson of the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting and the Informal Gathering of WTO Ministers. He also reaffirmed the need to promote collaboration in the energy field and maintain and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system.

(7) Exchange of opinions with Dr. Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of UAE

The two side exchanged views on the negotiations for the Japan-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Related Materials

• G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Statement
• G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting Chair’s Summary
• Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity Ministerial Statement(PDF:343KB)

Divisions in Charge

• About State Minister Koga’s visit to South Africa:

  International Economic Affairs Department, Trade Policy Bureau

• About the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC):

  Metal Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau