Search

In addition, Japan has been committed to advancing APEC green growth objectives. In 2012, following the Honolulu Declaration, APEC Leaders reached a groundbreaking agreement on the APEC List of Environmental Goods (54 items) that directly and positively contributes to APEC green growth and sustainable development objectives, on which we will reduce applied tariff rates to 5% or less by the end of 2015, taking into account each economy’s economic circumstances, without prejudice to APEC economies’ positions in the WTO.

Since the Eighteenth APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, held in Yokohama, Japan, in November 2010, Japan has contributed actively to the process of raising consensus among the APEC Leaders on: promoting effective, non-discriminatory, and market-driven innovation policy; increased participation in global production chains by small and medium-sized enterprises; promoting trade and investment in environmental goods and services ; reinforcing the implementation of good regulatory practices; enhancing supply-chain connectivity by establishing a baseline de minimis value of US$100 on exports by the end of 2012; address barriers to trade faced by SMEs in the region; and facilitate trade in remanufactured goods. In the 2012 Ministerial Meeting in Vladivostok, Japan reiterated its commitment towards, inter alia: strengthening the multilateral trading system; advancing trade and investment liberalization; addressing next-generation trade and investment issues; liberalizing and facilitating trade in services; facilitating investment; promoting trade in environmental goods; ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture; and establishing reliable supply chains. Furthermore, Japan contributed actively to the development of the APEC List of Environmental Goods (54 items), which was endorsed in Vladivostok in 2012.

Japan-China: In December 2011, Prime Minister Noda expressed “Six Initiatives to further deepen a ‘Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests’ on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China” during his visit to China. In line with the initiatives above, in May 2012, both leaders shared the view to further develop mutually beneficial economic relations in the fields of Finance, Energy - Saving and Environment , Tourism, Intellectual Property Rights, Agriculture and air transportation, etc. 

Japan-South Korea - In order to strengthen the economic relationship between Japan and Korea, the 10thJapan-Korea High-Level Economic Consultation was held on 24 November 2011. Both sides exchanged views to promote bilateral trade and investment and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation on global issues such as energy security and the environment.

In March 2010, the Subcommittee on Regulatory and Institutional Reform was established under the Government Revitalization Unit. It has three working groups which are the (1) green innovation working group ( environment and energy ),

At the time of the last Review of Japan, the Cabinet had authorized a regulatory reform programme issued by the GRU, under which the authorities were to review and improve about 60 regulations on, inter alia, environment and energy, medical and elderly care services, and agriculture.

It is also important for the Government to promote innovation in the fields of “green ( energy & environment )”, “life (health & life sciences)” and “agriculture,forestry and fisheries ” and develop an environment devoted to cultivating new industries along with increasing competitiveness of companies operating in Japan and creating jobs in a compatible manner.

For this reason, the Government prioritizes the above three policy areas and SMEs as four policy packages for the rebirth of Japan in the “Rebirth of Japan: A Comprehensive Strategy” decided by the Cabinet on 31 July 2012. The Government will work to: (1) draw up " Green Policy Outline” by the end of 2012 as a more concrete package of regulatory and systemic reform, and budgetary reform in order to establish world-leading technology innovation in the energy field and to create new industries and jobs; 

In July 2012, the Rebirth of Japan: A Comprehensive Strategy was adopted as a cabinet decision to succeed the New Growth Strategy. Four key policy areas (energy and environment; health; agriculture, forestry and fisheries; and SMEs) are to be prioritized over three years.

Other than rebuilding the physical infrastructure, the focus of the Government's rebuilding strategy is on job creation. In this respect, the authorities have identified the creation of new innovative industries through the utilization of "reconstruction special zones" and private sector funds. Industries targeted include: environmentally friendly industries, life sciences, science and technology, and information and communications sectors. The authorities are also focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as an engine of growth and revitalization. In this regard, the Government made sure that financing lines remained open after the disaster and is also considering making start-up capital more easily available. In order to realize the above, the Government has also consented to the Program for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center and Direct Investment into Japan (Chapter II). In the wake of the nuclear disaster, the Government is also in the process of reviewing its energy strategy and mix. This is also seen as an avenue for reconstruction and revitalization. In September 2012, the authorities issued the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment. These policies are governed by three underlying principles: realization of a society not dependent on nuclear power; realization of a green energy revolution; and stable supply of energy.