Japan and the United Kingdom Hold Inaugural Economic 2+2 Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo
On March 7, 2025, Japan and the United Kingdom convened their first Economic 2+2 Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo. The meeting lasted about two hours, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This new forum was created to promote dialogue on how trade and economic security intersect with foreign policy.
Attending the meeting were Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. MUTO Yoji, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs; and the Rt. Hon. Jonathan Reynolds MP, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Strengthening Economic and Security Ties
Minister Iwaya opened by expressing his pleasure in hosting the first Economic 2+2 meeting. He noted that the meeting stems from the leaders of Japan and the UK agreeing to promote strategic dialogue reflecting their close security partnerships in Europe and Asia. He expressed hope that the meeting would strengthen their economic ties further, building on the Japan-UK Global Strategic Partnership as outlined in the Hiroshima Accord.
Minister Muto welcomed enhanced cooperation across economic security, energy, and innovation areas. He emphasized that Japan and the UK share fundamental values and a strong relationship.
Foreign Secretary Lammy thanked Japan for hosting and highlighted the importance of addressing the growing overlap between economic and foreign policy issues. He noted the value of UK-Japan collaboration in navigating a volatile global environment.
Minister Reynolds stated that national security and economic growth support each other. He looked forward to working together to manage global risks impacting growth and trade.
Shared Commitments on Global Challenges
The four ministers discussed challenges facing the global economic order. They committed to sustaining and strengthening a free, fair, and rules-based system based on freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
Their discussions focused on four key areas:
- Economic Security
- Free and Open International Trade
- Energy Security
- Support for the Global South
Economic Security
The ministers agreed that enhancing global economic resilience is vital for stable growth amid current trade challenges. They stressed the need for close coordination with partner countries to improve supply chain resilience, especially concerning critical and emerging technologies.
They committed their officials to continue discussions on enhancing economic security measures. The areas of focus include supply-chain diversification, fair market development, export controls, and cooperation on export policies related to critical technologies.
The ministers expressed concern about coercive economic practices such as harmful subsidies, forced technology transfers, and distortions caused by non-market policies. They stressed the importance of working with like-minded nations to build reliable supply chains, including those for critical minerals needed for digitalization and net-zero transitions.
They agreed to explore criteria for resilient supply chains based on transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, trustworthiness, and reliability.
In technology cooperation, the ministers welcomed recent agreements between Japanese and UK industry partners promoting joint supply chains and collaboration on next-generation quantum computing. They also supported enhancing export controls to keep pace with rapid technological advances.
The ministers expressed a shared desire to see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, including continuing sanctions and measures to limit Russia’s ability to fund its military actions. They pledged to coordinate actions targeting Russia’s military-industrial supply chains and expressed concern about China’s support for Russia.
Free and Open International Trade
The ministers emphasized the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO). They committed to working together to strengthen all aspects of the WTO, including negotiations, monitoring, and dispute resolution. Their cooperation looks ahead to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled for March 2025. They recognized the role of plurilateral initiatives in advancing trade interests and supported incorporating the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO framework.
The ministers agreed to tackle trade issues related to non-market practices and climate change collaboratively.
They welcomed the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) last December. They agreed that the CPTPP remains an important tool for promoting a free and fair economic order in the Indo-Pacific region and pledged to work with partners to keep the agreement modern and high-standard.
Energy Security
The ministers discussed risks to energy security and opportunities for collaboration on clean energy supply chains.
They welcomed recent memoranda of cooperation on offshore wind, advanced robotics, autonomous systems, and civil-nuclear projects. These collaborations include advanced nuclear technologies, fusion energy research, and nuclear decommissioning efforts.
They committed to strengthening energy cooperation to ensure secure and reliable energy supplies for their countries.
The ministers reaffirmed their shared goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. They emphasized the need to reduce reliance on energy from unreliable and hostile sources.
They agreed to continue collaboration to accelerate clean energy transitions not only domestically but also in third countries.
Addressing Global Security Concerns
The meeting also highlighted the impact of Russia’s continued illegal actions in Ukraine on global energy and economic security. The ministers agreed to maintain pressure on Russia and those supporting its military complex through sanctions and coordinated policies.
They expressed concern about China’s increasing support to Russia’s defense industry, which enables the continuation of the conflict.
Looking Ahead
The Japan-UK Economic 2+2 Ministers’ Meeting establishes a new platform for close coordination on economic and foreign policy. Both countries aim to deepen their partnership to face global challenges together, focusing on economic security, trade, energy, and support for the Global South.
Officials from both countries will continue talks to implement the commitments made during the meeting. The ministers agreed that ongoing collaboration is essential for promoting a stable, rules-based global order that reflects their shared values and mutual interests.
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