Readout of Under Secretary Lago’s Participation in the Vice-Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-Japan Economic Policy Consultative Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2023
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@trade.gov

WASHINGTON—Today, the United States and Japan convened a vice-ministerial meeting of the U.S.-Japan Economic Policy Consultative Committee (EPCC), also known as the “Economic 2+2,” to promote and protect our shared economic interests.

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago and Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez attended on behalf of the United States, while Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Vice Minister for International Affairs Hirai Hirohide, and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ono Keiichi represented Japan.

Following the joint statement issued by the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of State, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in July 2022, today’s meeting focused on four topics: 1) Realizing Peace and Prosperity through the Rules-Based Economic Order; 2) Countering Economic Coercion and Opaque and Unfair Development Finance; 3) Strengthening Supply Capacity; and 4) Promoting and Securing Critical and Emerging Technologies and Critical Infrastructure.

Both sides also discussed cooperation toward this year’s G7 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings, hosted by Japan and the United States, respectively, as well as deliverables for the 2023 EPCC ministerial meeting and throughout Japan’s G7 presidency.

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