State Minister Ino Attends OECD 2026 Ministerial Council Meeting and Informal Gathering of WTO Ministers

1. OECD 2026 MCM

The meeting was chaired by the Republic of Finland. State Minister Ino attended the Breakout Session 5-2: Addressing Economic Security Concerns through Co-ordinated Action. He emphasized the importance of creating alternative supply sources to reduce dependence on specific countries in order to strengthen supply chains for goods, including critical minerals, and called for cooperation among like-minded countries.

In addition, State Minister Ino introduced the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia) initiative, which supports immediate procurement of petroleum products and the diversification of energy and critical mineral procurement in the medium to long term, in order to strengthen supply chains in the energy sector in Asia, and stated that Japan will aim to realize the evolution of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

Related Link

• Financial Cooperation with Partner-Country Companies under the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia

2. Informal Gathering of WTO Ministers

Chaired by Australia, the ministers discussed tangible steps toward WTO reform, including improving decision-making processes.　State Minister Ino emphasized the importance of strengthening supply chains in light of the current situations involving the Middle East and energy, as well as the underlying multilateral trading system. He also stressed the urgent need for reforms to restore and strengthen WTO functions, expressing Japan's desire to initiate concrete discussions on WTO reform. Furthermore, he noted that Japan places high importance on a level playing field (LPF) and wishes to accelerate substantive discussions from various perspectives.

3. High-level Event on Export Credits

Chaired by the Republic of Finland, the Participants to the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits gathered to exchange views on the future direction of export credits. State Minister Ino stated that securing alternative sources of critical minerals is an urgent issue, and that ensuring a level playing field with non-OECD countries is crucial.

4. Bilateral Meetings

During his visit to France, State Minister Ino held bilateral meetings respectively with H.E. Mr. Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany; Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye; Ms. Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; and Ms. Indiana Trejos, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Costa Rica, exchanging views on bilateral economic relations.

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany

The two sides confirmed progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of fields, including defense and dual-use applications, and also agreed to continue cooperation in the field of economic security.

(2) Meeting with Mr. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye

State Minister Ino exchanged views with Deputy Minister Tuzcu on accelerating negotiations toward the early conclusion of the Japan-Turkey Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

(3) Talk with Ms. Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

State Minister Ino exchanged views with Deputy Minister Chatardová on cooperation in strengthening supply chains between Japan and the Czech Republic and progress in bilateral cooperation.

(4) Talk with Ms. Indiana Trejos, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Costa Rica

State Minister Ino welcomed the substantive conclusion of negotiations for Costa Rica's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Japan-Costa Rica economic relations in the future.

Related Material

• Statement of the Chair of the OECD 2026 Ministerial Council Meeting

Divisions in Charge

• For the visit, the OECD 2026 Ministerial Council Meeting, and the Informal Gathering of WTO Ministers

  International Economic Affairs Department, Trade Policy Bureau

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  For the High-level Export Credit Event

  Trade Finance Division, Trade Policy Bureau