Press Conference by Minister Hagiuda (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

10:49-10:58 a.m.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Press Conference Room, METI

Opening Remarks

Clean Energy Strategy

Good morning.
I would like to bring up one point to start.
On December 16, the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy and the Industrial Structure Council will hold a joint meeting to start discussions toward formulating a clean energy strategy.
With the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 46% reduction by 2030, it is important to secure a stable, inexpensive energy supply for the future and ensure it contributes to further economic growth.
With these issues in mind, the Clean Energy Strategy aims to achieve the high goals set out in the Green Growth Strategy and Strategic Energy Plan. Energy transition measures will be considered for various fields on the demand side including industrial sectors, in addition to the supply side.
It will support corporate investments by presenting outlooks for new developments in important transition technologies—such as hydrogen, ammonia, nuclear power, and storage batteries—as well as an expected market scale for each field.
We also intend to further develop conventional strategies such as creating new markets by spreading these ideas throughout Asia, leading to a virtuous cycle of economic growth and environmental protection. I hope to deepen discussions on issues like these.
Please ask my staff in charge for more information.
That is all.

Question-and-Answer Session

Advanced Semiconductors

Q: My question is about semiconductor support. What is the significance of yesterday's Cabinet decision on a bill for partial revision of the act on subsidies for establishing semiconductor plants? Some say that it does not compare well to similar kinds of support measures taken overseas, and others criticize prioritizing foreign companies. What are your opinions on this?

A: Semiconductors are used in many fields and are considered to be the brains of industry. As risks in global supply chains increase, major countries are spending large sums of money to attract advanced semiconductor manufacturing bases. Establishing a stable supply system for advanced semiconductors is also an urgent issue for Japan.
Although this bill includes measures to address these urgent issues, I am aware that there are various opinions, such as those you mentioned.
When this bill is taken into deliberation in the Diet, I would like to properly explain it so that the public can fully understand its content and necessity. Having said that, I hope to hear opinions from various perspectives to improve the support schemes to promote the development of advanced semiconductor manufacturing bases, including this bill.

WTO

Q: I have one more question. Regarding the WTO, Japan, the United States, China, Europe, and others seem to have agreed to develop a new framework for trade and environmental issues. Please tell us your opinions on it.

A: On the 4th (JST), 70 WTO members issued the Ministerial Statement on Trade and Environmental Sustainability. This statement shows that many countries, including the United States and China, are determined to address climate change and other environmental issues from a trade policy perspective. I hope that ministerial-level WTO discussions will accelerate, including those on promoting the trade of environmental goods.
Japan made a proposal this March on the WTO's contributions toward achieving carbon neutrality, and we hope to continue leading international discussions on responses to climate change issues within the WTO.
Japan will continue seeking to improve the WTO's ability to respond to various economic and social challenges through initiatives by like-minded member states like this and participation in the Trilateral Meeting of the Trade Ministers of Japan, the USA and the EU, without being deterred by the postponement of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference.