WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met today with Japan Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Hagiuda Koichi. Ambassador Tai and Minister Hagiuda reaffirmed the wide-ranging collaboration between both countries, including bilaterally through the U.S.-Japan Partnership on Trade. They welcomed the Partnership’s progress over the past several months on issues related to enhancing predictability for businesses through exchanging information on eradicating forced labor from supply chains, promoting labor standards, and protecting human rights, including through businesses’ responsibility to respect the rights of workers. The Ministers affirmed that there must be no place for forced labor in the global trading system. Ambassador Tai and Minister Hagiuda also reaffirmed ongoing collaboration to address other non-market policies and practices, including economic coercion.
The Ministers noted the positive discussions during the Virtual Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial meeting earlier this week, and agreed to continue discussions on the scope of future engagement under the IPEF, including the trade pillar. Ambassador Tai and Minister Hagiuda confirmed their intention to deepen discussions about collaboration on the respective agendas for the United States’ APEC host year and Japan’s G7 host year in 2023. Ambassador Tai also raised the need for further collaboration to increase Japan’s use of on-road ethanol. Ambassador Tai and Minister Hagiuda agreed to stay in touch over the coming weeks.
