Chairman Nakamura’s Comments on Extension of
the State of Emergency Declaration for the Coronavirus Pandemic

May 4, 2020

The decision has been taken to extend the state of emergency declaration to May 31. Although the number of new infections is on a downward trend, as the expert panel has pointed out, continual measures are required, and this is an appropriate step.

We would like to reiterate our gratitude to all those battling every day in fields such as medicine, government, social infrastructure, and logistics, as well as business operators cooperating in shutdowns by voluntarily suspending their operations. In cooperation with our member companies, the JFTC continues to promote teleworking and other measures to prevent the spread of infection, as well as urge all those we deal with to reduce instances of individual contact, for example by refraining from going out.

At the same time, the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are becoming increasingly severe in all aspects of economic activity. As well as rigorous infection prevention measures, swift and extensive economic measures will be crucial in conjunction with extension of the state of emergency. Now that the supplementary budget for FY2020 has been passed, support measures based on the emergency economic package have begun. Adequate assistance needs to be delivered to people and businesses that require it as quickly as possible, and I urge the government and local public bodies to act flexibly and boldly without being bound by precedent, including in the medical field. I would also like them to consider further additional measures as required.

At the global level, export restrictions on medical and agricultural goods have become conspicuous and there are fears that the spread of COVID-19 will give impetus to protectionism. Conversely, some countries have agreed on adhering to free trade principles including maintenance of supply networks and enhancement of mutual accommodation for necessary goods, and moves to endorse this view are becoming more widespread. I sincerely hope that the Japanese government, which has greatly contributed to the expansion of economic partnership agreements such as the CPTPP, will proactively take the initiative in shaping a post-COVID-19 economic order based on international harmony and free trade. The JFTC is committed to collaborating with all those involved in trade to resolve the various trade issues that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will do everything in our power to ensure availability of goods essential to people’s lives.