On September 16, 2025, Mr. Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan and Mr. Stéphane Séjourné, Executive vice-president of the European Commission for industrial strategy and prosperity held a bilateral meeting.
In light of the evolving global trade and security landscape, both sides recognised the importance of accelerating the implementation of the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance launched at the 30th Japan-EU Summit held on July 23, 2025. They welcomed the swift progress in the bilateral cooperation, as witnessed in the Memorandum of Understanding among Japans Battery Association for Supply Chain, Recharge and European Battery Alliance, managed by clean tech impact investor InnoEnergy as well as in the Memorandum of Cooperation among Japans GX Acceleration Agency, JETRO and InnoEnergy as basis for future cooperation and shared the recognition to grow together, including by encouraging private partnerships and promoting investment opportunities.
To this end, both sides discussed the potential to deepen policy cooperation where appropriate. They exchanged views on potential collaboration in wide-ranging sectors of economic importance, including critical minerals, batteries, and biotechnology. They reaffirmed the importance of establishing resilient supply chains, including by exploring concrete cooperation to stimulate supply and demand in support of lead markets and considering non-price criteria.
Finally, both sides confirmed their intention to continue discussion towards maintaining a rule-based free and fair economic order. Looking forward to building on and advancing EU-Japan trade and industrial relations, they welcomed the expanded high-level economic dialogue announced in the 30th Japan-EU Summit, and reaffirmed their commitment to hold the dialogue as early as possible.
