Japan and the United States hold economic version 2 plus 2, cooperate on next-generation semiconductor research | Reuters

[ワシントン ２９日 ロイター] – On the 29th, the Japanese and US governments held a meeting of foreign and economic ministers (economic version 2 plus 2). Economy Minister Koichi Hagiuda announced that Japan and the United States have agreed to establish a new joint research center for next-generation semiconductors, with the aim of countering the chaos caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China.

From the US side, Secretary of State Brinken and Secretary of Commerce Lemond Lemond participated, and from the Japanese side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda. They also discussed energy and food security.

“As the world’s first and third largest economies, it is important that we work together to safeguard a rules-based economic order in which all nations can participate, compete and thrive,” said Blinken. pointed out. Recent events like the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine have shown vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, and “China’s coercive and retaliatory economic practices are forcing countries to choose, It threatens national security, intellectual property and economic independence.”

Hayashi said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a serious challenge to the international order. Although he did not name any specific countries, he has seen attempts to “exercise economic influence in an unfair and opaque manner, realize strategic interests, and change the existing international order” with China in mind. I thought I would be able to.

The joint statement strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a “cruel, unprovoked and unjustified aggression” and shared the recognition that such aggression “undermined energy and food security around the world”. . It also “affirmed the need to address the climate crisis in the face of the challenges posed by energy insecurity.”

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda stressed that “Japan will take swift action” regarding next-generation semiconductor research. He said the US and Japan agreed to set up a “new research and development organization” to establish a secure source of critical parts.

The research center will be open to other “like-minded” countries, he said.

Japan and the United States did not disclose details at this time, but the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said that prior to this, Japan will establish a new research and development base that will serve as a contact point with the United States within the year, set up a trial production line, and plan to start in 2025. It also reported that it aims to establish a mass production system in Japan.

“Semiconductors are the cornerstone of our economy and national security,” Commerce Secretary Lemond said, adding that the two countries had discussed cooperation “on the cutting edge of semiconductors.”

In a joint statement, the United States and Japan pledged to work together to “promote supply chain resilience in strategic sectors, particularly semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals.” “Both countries will build a strong battery supply chain to lead cooperation among like-minded countries.”