Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on US-Japan Leaders Meeting

January 25, 2022

The first formal meeting between Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and US President Joe Biden took place on January 21.

The two leaders discussed growing geopolitical risks and the necessary steps towards realizing a “free and open Indo-Pacific region,” which include strengthening both the US-Japan alliance and collaborations with like-minded nations.

Particularly welcome are their decisions on bilateral economic security, including an agreement to establish a ministerial-level committee (the Economic “2 + 2”) and enhance economic cooperation under the Japan-US Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership.

Also of note was the invitation extended by Prime Minister Kishida for President Biden to attend the next Quad Leaders Meeting, which will be held in Japan in the first half of 2022. Further collaboration between Japan, the US, Australia and India will be essential in the years ahead, and a stronger Japan-US alliance in the Indo-Pacific region should bolster not only our economies, but also our efforts to decarbonize, develop advanced technologies and shore up supply chains.

Through the business activities of its member companies, the JFTC remains committed to helping advance Japan-US trade policies.