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Chart 4.3 describes the composition of primary energy supply in Japan for 2008 and 2013 as well as the targets set by the new (2015) Japan energy policy for 2030 (see below for a more detailed description of this policy). The share of nuclear energy in Japan's primary energy supply has crumbled from 14% to 1% from 2008 to 2013 following the closure of nuclear power plants after the Fukushima accident in 2011. This has been compensated by an increase of the share of oil, coal and gas. The total energy consumption declined during the same period partly due to the increase in energy efficiency and partly because of the post financial crisis recession.

As illustrated by Table 4.11 and Chart 4.4, Japan is highly dependent on imports for all its fossil fuels; this has a bearing on its long-term strategy on energy mix. This strategy is detailed in the 4th Strategic Energy Plan of Japan , published in April 2014 under the framework of the Basic Law on Energy Policy of 2002 (Act No. 71), the first such plan after the Fukushima accident and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. It establishes four basic principles, known as the 3E+S, namely stable supply (energy security), cost reduction (economic efficiency), environment, and safety. Its aim is to build a multi-layered and diversified flexible energy demand/supply structure. It was complemented in July 2015 by another document issued by the Government, the Long-term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook. The total primary energy supply targets/forecasts for 2030 were established by this document: a primary energy supply share of 10-11% for nuclear energy, slightly inferior to that prior to the nuclear accident; a slight decline of coal and gas; a considerable decrease of oil (from 45% to 30%); and a considerable increase of renewable energies (from 2% to 13 to 14%). In absolute terms and based on a hypothesis of yearly growth of 1.7%, the total primary energy supply is expected to decrease slightly. On the demand side the relative share of electricity versus primary energies is expected to increase slightly from 25% to 28.5%, while the total demand for energy is projected to decrease by about 10%.

This liberalization has not yet been translated into lower prices, due to the constraints created by the closing down of all nuclear plants in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident. Three nuclear power plants have so far resumed activity after their safety had been declared by the Nuclear Regulation Authority. This loss has been partly compensated by expensive imports of oil, gas and coal and the reactivation of thermal power plants. On average, tariffs for individual consumers have been raised by approximately 25% since the accident and there is no compensation scheme financed by the State for individual consumers. For energy intensive consuming industries, an exemption of 80% of the so called "feed in tariff" has been put into place, for an effective cost for the Government of ¥45 billion annually.

These new circumstances have added new objectives to the electricity reform, notably to secure stable supply of electricity by facilitating even more power interchanged between regions, to hold down tariffs as much as possible and to give due regard to the energy mix especially regarding nuclear and renewables. The targets for 2030 for the respective shares of nuclear and renewables in the electricity mix have already been established in the Long-Term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook, mentioned above. These targets are the following: for nuclear from 1% presently to 20-22% and for renewables from 13% of the total presently to 22-24% (of which solar 7%, biomass 3.7-4.6%, geothermal 0.8.-1.1% and hydro 8.8-9.2%). In the meantime power demand is expected to increase slightly (from 966.6 billion kWh to 980.8 billion kWh).

Table 2.1 List of Thrusts and Number of Targeted Goals (KPIs) in the 11MP
Thrust Details No. of KPIs
(...)
4 Pursuing Green Growth for Sustainability and Resilience 10
(...)

(...) As for the services sector, the focus is in the areas of Principal Hubs, Logistics, e-Commerce, Green Technology and Renewable Energy as well as Waste Management.

As highlighted in the last Review, the Government has established five economic growth corridors to further develop Malaysia's strategic investments regions. The five economic regions and growth corridors are:
(...)
v. Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)
Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) was launched in 2008 under the Sarawak Regional Corridor Development Authorities Ordinance of 2006. It covers an area of 70,708 sq km of the central region of Sarawak. Five growth nodes have been identified namely Samalaju, Mukah, Tanjung Manis, Tunoh and Baram with different priorities and activities. For example, Samalaju is targeted as the new heavy and energy-intensive industry centre and Mukah will be developed into a Smart City. Some of the completed projects by RECODA include 66km of access road to Murum Hydroelectric Plant and Phase 1 of the Samalaju Industrial Park. To date, RECODA has achieved a total of RM 115.79 billion cumulative committed investments, of which RM 81.90 billion had been realised and 59,645 jobs had been created in various economic sectors.

Over the past years, Malaysia has been involved as a third party in several trade dispute settlement cases that have a bearing on Malaysia’s trade interests. These include packaging requirement for tobacco products, anti-dumping measures on bio-diesel and fatty alcohol, and incentives on solar cells and modules.

The Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA) negotiation was formally launched on 5 October 2010. It is a comprehensive FTA covering 16 areas which include market access for goods, services, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, government procurement as well as sustainable development issues covering labour and environment. In 2012, the MEUFTA negotiations were suspended. There is now renewed political will to exercise flexibility in addressing the challenges and outstanding issues faced in the negotiations.

Several other initiatives have also been implemented under 2016-2017 ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Initiatives Work Plan. These include the:
i. finalization and endorsement of the texts of the ASEAN-U.S. Cooperation in Fostering Transparency and Good Regulatory Practices and the ASEAN-U.S. Cooperation in Fostering International Investment; and
ii. ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Environment Dialogue focusing on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, which was held on 5–6 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.