Akazawa Joins APEC Ministerial Meeting
Overview
On November 3, 2026, the APEC Ministerial Meeting, chaired by China, was held by videoconference, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa spoke in Session 2. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of a free, open, and fair trade and investment environment and a multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, and confirmed the importance of cooperation through APEC for regional growth and prosperity. Minister Akazawa highlighted the importance of a hybrid trade policy and called for shared understanding on rulemaking, energy resilience, and export restrictions on critical minerals.
Key points
- The APEC Ministerial Meeting was held by videoconference on November 3, 2026, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa spoke in Session 2.
- Minister Akazawa called for three priorities: high-standard rulemaking, energy resilience, and shared understanding on refraining from arbitrary export restrictions on critical minerals.
- Japan stated that it would continue cooperating with APEC economies and advance efforts toward sustainable growth and regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region.
Overview
China served as the chair economy, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao serving as co-chairs. The meeting discussed the themes “Advancing efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community” and “Advancing economic integration for new growth in the region.”
Across Sessions 1 and 2, participants reaffirmed the importance of a free, open, and fair trade and investment environment and a multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, and confirmed the importance of greater cooperation through APEC for regional growth and prosperity.
Details
Minister Akazawa spoke in Session 2, whose agenda was “Advancing economic integration for new growth in the region.” In Session 1, on “Advancing efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community,” Foreign Minister Motegi spoke.
Minister Akazawa pointed out that the importance of a “hybrid trade policy” that advances “free trade and the rule of law” is growing amid increasing uncertainty in the global economy and challenges such as supply chain disruptions. From this perspective, he called for high-standard rulemaking in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting energy resilience through “Power Asia,” and shared understanding that arbitrary export restrictions on critical minerals that disrupt global supply chains should be refrained from.
Minister Akazawa stated that Japan would continue cooperating with APEC economies in these areas and advance efforts toward sustainable growth and regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region.