TOKYO – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Deputy United States Trade Representative today met with Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa to discuss new ways for United States and Japan can effectively partner to create a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Tai highlighted President Biden’s vision for creating an economic framework for a region that is open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure.
During the meeting and working dinner, Ambassador Tai and Minister Hayashi celebrated today’s announcement of the new U.S.-Japan Partnership on Trade initiative and highlighted the opportunity to utilize the bilateral mechanism to strengthen the relationship and address trade-related matters of importance to both countries. Both ministers agreed to robust discussions on several issues including shared challenges from global excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors, labor and the environment, the digital economy, trade facilitation and supply chain issues.
They also exchanged views on the challenges from, and potential approaches to address, China’s non-market actions and other policies that threaten the stability and prosperity of the global trading system and for our workers. Ambassador Tai also expressed her strong hope for a quick and positive resolution to the current beef safeguard consultations between the United States and Japan. Ambassador Tai and Minister Hayashi also agreed to work toward a successful 12th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference and meaningful reform of the organization.
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