A Meeting between Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akihiro Ohata and World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy

November 10, 2010
Japanese

On November 10 (Wed), for about 15 minutes from 7:45 a.m. in Yokohama City, Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Akihiro Ohata, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO, who is v isiting Japan to attend APEC Japan 2010 in Yokohama. The overview of the meeting is as follows;

At the start of the meeting, Minister Maehara expressed his intent to issue a strong message in APEC regarding a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations, in the hope that the APEC meeting can serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the DDA negotiations. Minister Ohata added that Japan will make every effort to contribute to the successful conclusion of the DDA, and noted the importance of resisting protectionism in light of the continuing presence of some forms of protectionism in the world after the global financial crisis. In response, Director-General Lamy confirmed that the WTO will continue to contribute to efforts to resist protectionism.
Minister Maehara and Minister Ohata explained to Director-General Lamy that the November 9 Japanese Cabinet decision to establish a “Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnership” was based on the principle that Japan’s economic diplomacy hinges on “opening up the country.” Regarding the DDA, both Ministers stated that the year 2011 will be an important year, and stressed the importance of having each WTO member make a due contribution toward an early conclusion of the DDA.

In response, Director-General Lamy said that 2011 would become an important “window of opportunity,” and that he was sincerely hoping for contributions from each member.

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