BANGKOK – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today met with Japan's Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi on the margins of the APEC Ministerial Meeting. The Ministers discussed their expectations for the 2023 APEC host year, and Ambassador Tai shared that the United States will build on many of the priorities from the current APEC host year, particularly efforts on sustainable and inclusive trade. The Ministers also discussed priorities for Japan’s G7 presidency in 2023, including economic security and tackling shared challenges posed by non-market economic policies and practices.
Ambassador Tai and Minister Nishimura highlighted the momentum for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and discussed their expectations for the upcoming negotiating round in December. They expressed their support for an ambitious negotiating schedule going forward, with a focus on inclusivity and strong outcomes for all IPEF member countries. They agreed on the need to table novel commitments that fit the challenges and opportunities of today. The Ministers also discussed other issues of common interest being advanced under the U.S. – Japan Partnership on Trade, including the status of efforts to partner together to help eradicate the use of forced labor in global supply chains.
Ambassador Tai also raised the status of the U.S.-Japan beef safeguard agreement and Japan’s ongoing review of its on-road ethanol use targets, and emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of increased ethanol use. Additionally, they discussed the electric vehicle provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and Ambassador Tai noted the importance of taking meaningful action to combat the climate crisis by investing in clean energy technologies and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities.
Ambassador Tai and Minister Nishimura agreed to stay in touch on these, and other, important bilateral and multilateral issues in the weeks ahead.
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