Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
APEC Ministerial Meeting 2024 Session III
November 14, 2024
On November 14 (November 15 JST), Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, together with Mr. MUTO Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, participated in the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, Republic of Peru. The Session III of the meeting was chaired by H.E. Mrs. Ursula Desilu LEON CHEMPEN, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, under the theme of “Trade and Investment for Inclusive and Interconnected Growth.”
- In the meeting, Minister IWAYA stated as follows;
- In realizing economic prosperity in the APEC region through trade liberalization and facilitation,
- it is necessary to provide political impetus to the rules-making efforts in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- in particular, it is important to continue our collaboration with APEC economies to encourage prompt acceptance of the instrument of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by economies that have not accepted it yet, and to incorporate the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement into the WTO’s agreement at the earliest possible date.
- it is also important to tackle emerging and contemporary issues on such as environment and non-market policies and practices. - Japan highly appreciates the leadership of Peru throughout the year to promote discussions under the theme of “a New Look at the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)", and welcomes the adoption of “the Ichma Statement on FTAAP” as the FTAAP is consistent with our aim of inclusion, interconnectivity, and sustainability in trade.
- The role of APEC, the economic cooperation forum of the region, has never been more relevant than today and Japan will remain committed to continuing its utmost efforts to realize sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
- In realizing economic prosperity in the APEC region through trade liberalization and facilitation,
- Many of the participating ministers mentioned the importance of freer trade areas for the future and their expectations for the multilayered role of the FTAAP, and confirmed that they would continue to promote cooperation to realize a sustainable and inclusive APEC.