Press Releases
Summary of the second meeting under “Strategic Partnership Framework between Japan and MERCOSUR”
March 26, 2026
On March 25 (same day local time), Japan and Mercosur held the second meeting under "Strategic Partnership Framework between Japan and MERCOSUR" in Yaoundé, the capital of the Republic of Cameroon, during the WTO Ministerial Conference.
- The meeting was attended by Mr. ISHIZE Motoyuki, Director-General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with representatives from relevant ministries. From the Mercosur side, Ambassador Philip Fox-Drummond GOUGH, Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Ambassador Wilma Patricia FRUTOS RUÍZ, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, Mr. Fernand Brun, Secretary of International Economic Relations, Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic, Ms. Valeria Csukasi, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oriental Republic of Uruguay along with representatives from other Mercosur’s countries, attended the meeting.
- Japan and Mercosur confirmed that, amid increasingly complex international circumstances, further elevating economic relations between Japan and Mercosur has significant strategic importance for both sides, and exchanged information regarding each other’s areas of interest and sensitivities, should EPA negotiations begin, in light of recent trends among like-minded countries and regions to diversify their economic relations.
- The Japanese side highlighted areas of interest, such as improvement of market access of industrial and manufactured goods, and the business environment, and securing a stable supply of critical mineral, energy, and grains. Japan also explained the sensitivities regarding Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, as well as other sector sensitive products, and noted that it is necessary to obtain the understanding of domestic stakeholders to decide to start negotiations.
- The Mercosur side highlighted that its major interest would be an improved market access for its agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, and explained also its priority areas and sensitivities.
- Both sides confirmed that sufficient consideration of each other’s sensitivities is necessary to achieve meaningful results and concurred on continuing discussions.