Miyamoto Visits the United States
Overview
State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Miyamoto visited Milwaukee, United States, and attended the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, the GFSEC Ministerial Meeting on steel overcapacity, and a trade ministers’ roundtable. He presented Japan’s positions on addressing structural overcapacity, the MFN principle, and eliminating forced labor. The GFSEC adopted a framework for joint action to address steel overcapacity. He also exchanged views with representatives of the United States and other countries and regions.
Key points
- At the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, participants discussed overcapacity, the MFN principle, forced labor, and the weaponization of food trade.
- The GFSEC Ministerial Meeting adopted a comprehensive framework for joint action to address steel overcapacity.
- At the roundtable and bilateral meetings, participants exchanged views on investment, trade, and economic relations.
Overview
State Minister Miyamoto traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, from September 29 to October 3 and attended the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting and the GFSEC Ministerial Meeting on steel overcapacity. He also participated in a trade ministers’ roundtable hosted by the U.S. Trade Representative and held meetings and exchanged views with ministers from various countries and regions.
At the G20 meetings on September 30 and October 1, participants discussed structural overcapacity and overproduction, the most-favored-nation (MFN) principle, eliminating forced labor from supply chains, and the weaponization of food trade.
Impact
In Japan, the number of companies addressing human rights doubled after the guidelines were established.
Details
Deputy Minister Miyamoto said that overcapacity undermines fair competition and industrial development, citing rules-based trade remedies, measures to prevent circumvention, and stronger subsidy rules. He called for a shared understanding to avoid market fragmentation caused by protectionism and to refrain from arbitrary export restrictions on critical materials. He said that maintaining the MFN principle remains fundamental, while Japan is open to interpreting exceptions and clarifying the rules.
On eliminating forced labor, he identified the challenge of introducing measures while ensuring their effective enforcement. Japan calls on companies to conduct human rights due diligence in line with its human rights guidelines, and provides training to companies in Thailand and Vietnam through contributions to the ILO.
At its September 30 meeting, the GFSEC adopted the “Comprehensive Framework for Joint Action to Address the Problem of Steel Overcapacity.” The framework promotes coordination of collective policies and solutions consistent with the Berlin Principles I and action on root causes, and reaffirms compliance with WTO and FTA obligations. Deputy Minister Miyamoto stressed the importance of coordinated responses consistent with international rules.
At the roundtable, Deputy Minister Miyamoto highlighted the strength of Japan–U.S. economic relations and expressed expectations for projects that benefit both sides. He called for a shared understanding of overcapacity and cooperation toward fair competitive conditions. He conveyed the importance of resilient supply chains to the U.S. Trade Representative and expressed concern about the EU’s successor measures to its steel safeguards.
With Brazil, he discussed strengthening bilateral economic relations and ties with Mercosur; with Argentina, steady progress in Japan–Mercosur EPA negotiations and expanded trade and investment. With South Korea, he discussed trade developments and economic relations; with Mexico, an investigation into Japanese-origin thick steel plate and the business environment for Japanese companies; with Turkey, early conclusion of an EPA; with Poland, bilateral cooperation; and with the United Kingdom, economic relations and concerns over its steel tariff measures.