Tokyo, March 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan and the United States agreed Sunday to launch a framework in which the two countries will act quickly together to prevent disruptions in the supply of critical minerals. The agreement was reached at a bilateral ministerial meeting held in Tokyo on the sidelines of an international conference on energy security in the Indo-Pacific region. The envisaged bilateral framework will be joined by senior officials from related Japanese and U.S. ministries and agencies. They will work to prevent supply disruptions for critical minerals resulting from possible export restrictions by resource-producing countries, apparently including China. The officials will also cooperate in information-sharing and mutual supplies of important minerals as needed. Participants in the bilateral talks included Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. The two sides agreed to “deepen cooperation” in the fields of nuclear energy and liquefied natural gas, as well as the development of and financing for important minerals, Akazawa told reporters. “We were able to lay the groundwork” for a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for Thursday in Washington, he added. Meanwhile, participants in the international meeting adopted a joint statement pledging cooperation in infrastructure investment and other areas to ensure stable energy supplies in the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting, which started Saturday for a two-day run, brought together cabinet ministers and others from 18 countries, including Japan, the United States, Australia, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore. The attendees discussed responses to escalating tensions in the Middle East, such as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. “We affirmed the importance of investment in stable and highly credible energy infrastructure,” such as for nuclear power and LNG, Akazawa said. Participants also agreed to work together to ensure stable energy supplies, he said. The meeting was co-sponsored by Japan and the United States. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan, U.S. to Cooperate against Critical Mineral Disruptions
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