Press Releases
G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Osaka-Sakai
“Free and Fair Trade – Towards MC13” (Session 2) and “Level Playing Field” (Session 3)
October 29, 2023
On October 29, commencing at around 9:40am, for approximately 60 minutes, in and commencing at around 10:55am, for approximately 90 minutes, in Osaka, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, participated in the “Free and Fair Trade – Towards MC13” (Session 2) and “Level Playing Field” (Session 3), respectively. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. “Free and Fair Trade – Towards MC13” (Session 2)
- (a) At the outset, Minister Kamikawa emphasized that it is necessary to achieve outcomes at MC13 coming up next February, and stated that Japan places priorities in the following themes with the view to achieve outcomes: advancement in WTO reform including dispute settlement reform, early enter into force of fisheries subsidies agreement and acceleration of discussion toward the adoption of the comprehensive disciplines, extension of moratorium on not levying customs duties on electronic transmissions, enhancing the transparency of export controls, and development.
- (b) In addition, Ministers confirmed, as G7 members, to continue to collaborate closely to achieve outcomes at MC13 while at the same time affirmed that, in order to achieve such outcomes, it is important to collaborate with international partners beyond G7, which include Global South countries, and individually approach relevant countries.
- (c) Many participants stated that it is important to achieve outcomes on such as dispute settlement reform at MC13, and also expressed that deliberative functions at the WTO in the field of such as state intervention and industrial policies should be enhanced.
2. “Level Playing Field”
- (a) Minister Kamikawa, as the Chair, led the session, and discussed non-market policies and practices, and confirmed that such non-market policies and practices, including non-transparent industrial subsidies, market distorting practices by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and all forms of forced technology transfer, are of great concerns amongst G7, and discussed most effective action to be taken to realize level playing field.
- (b) In addition, Minister Kamikawa emphasized that it is important to collaborate with international partners beyond G7, and bring the discussions therein and amongst G7 to the WTO. Minister Kamikawa further stated that in order to counter to counter non-market policies and practices, it is necessary for G7 to cooperate to utilize existing rules and tools, and if needed, develop new rules.
- (c) Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa pointed out that market-distorting policies and practices harm the whole of the international community, not to mention the proper development of developing countries, and appealed that it is important to share such awareness with wider partners beyond G7, including developing countries. G7 members supported Minister Kamikawa’s statement.
- (d) G7 members candidly exchanged views and opinions on the theme of the session.