DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ US commerce secretary says closed three 'pillars' of Indo-Pacific talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo addresses the media during the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework meeting in Detroit, Michigan U.S. May 27, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said a ministers meeting on Tuesday had completed three of four "pillars" in the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework talks on the sidelines of a Pacific Rim leaders summit. Raimondo, made the remark at a bilateral meeting with Japan, one of the 14 IPEF countries in the U.S.-led talks. We had an excellent ministerial earlier today, closing out the three pillars of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework." U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday the trade pillar negotiations will "require further work".

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Rebecca Cook, Raimondo, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Yoko Kamikawa, May, Biden, Janet Yellen, Xi Jinping, David Lawder, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Commerce, Detroit , Michigan U.S, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, . Commerce, Biden, Pacific, Commerce Department, Economic Cooperation, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, Japan, U.S, Asia, China . U.S, Lincoln

TOKYO (AP) — Trade and economy officials from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies strengthened their pledge Sunday to work together to ensure smooth supply chains for essentials like energy and food despite global uncertainties. Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesThe G-7 includes the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain. Trade is one sector where growing political tensions with China have been playing out, although China was not directly mentioned in the meetings. Yasutoshi Nishimura, the Japanese minister in charge of trade and the economy, said G-7 nations expressed support and understanding for Japan’s position, stressing the safety of Japanese food based on scientific evidence, including that from Fukushima. Nishimura also said the guest nations that took part in the G-7 meeting, including Australia and India, were potentially powerful allies in strengthening the supply chain in valuable materials.

Persons: Yoko Kamikawa, ”, “, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Kamikawa, Katherine Tai, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, —, European Union, World Trade Organization, ”, EU, U.S . Trade Locations: Osaka, Ukraine, Israel, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, Australia, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kenya, China, Hiroshima, Fukushima

☆ G7 calls for immediate repeal of bans on Japanese food, pressing China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The G7 trade ministers, in a statement after a weekend meeting on Osaka, did not mention China but they also denounced what they consider its rising economic coercion through trade. "We deplore actions to weaponize economic dependencies and commit to build on free, fair, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationships," said the 10-page statement. While Japan and the U.S. have called the curbs unfair, Russia announced a similar restriction earlier this month. The G7 - the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada - expressed "concern" over recent control measures on the export of critical minerals. "We completely agreed to build resilient and reliable supply chains" for critical minerals, semiconductors and batteries, he told a press conference.

Persons: Eugene Hoshiko, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Kantaro Komiya, William Mallard Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, Rights, Japan, U.S, Hamas, Thomson Locations: China, South Korea, Canada, Hisanohama Port, Iwaki, Japan, Osaka, Russia, United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ G7 Calls for Immediate Repeal of Bans on Japanese Food, Pressing China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Yasutoshi Nishimura, Kantaro Komiya, William Mallard Organizations: Japan, U.S, Hamas Locations: TOKYO, Osaka, China, Japan, Russia, United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ Japan aims for joint EV, chip subsidy rules with U.S. and Europe - Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Japanese government aims to invest 20 trillion yen ($133.62 billion) in green transformation over 10 years, according to Nikkei. The three countries could also discuss environmental and other requirements to qualify for EV subsidies, Nikkei added. Nishimura also discussed plans to bolster Japanese investment in the so-called Global South, which is comprised of emerging and developing countries mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Nikkei said. His ministry aims to facilitate 2 trillion yen in public and private investment in these countries over five years. ($1 = 149.6800 yen)Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, Issei Kato, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Roushni Nair, Shailesh Organizations: Economy, Trade, Industry, REUTERS, U.S, Nikkei, EV, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Bengaluru

☆ Japan provides up to $80 mln subsidy to moonshot startup ispace
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A model of the lunar rover in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program by "ispace" is pictured at a venue to monitor its landing on the Moon, in Tokyo, Japan, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Japan will provide a subsidy of up to 12 billion yen ($80 million) to moon exploration startup ispace (9348.T) as part of a grant programme for innovative ventures, industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Friday. Tokyo-based ispace aims to launch its second moon lander next year and start a NASA-sponsored moonshot in 2026, following its failed first lunar landing attempt in April this year. The grant would not have any material impact on the company's near-term earnings forecast since it relates to a future mission, ispace added. The company has expected to book a net loss of 4.5 billion yen in the current financial period ending in March 2024.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Yasutoshi Nishimura, ispace, Kantaro Komiya, Christopher Cushing, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, NASA, Thomson Locations: HAKUTO, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Canada, Japan agree to work more closely on battery supply chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Canada and Japan on Thursday agreed to work more closely together to establishing sustainable and reliable global battery supply chains, the Canadian government said in a statement. The two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation on the supply chains during a visit by Japanese Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, it said, but gave no details. Canada, home to a large mining sector for minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt, wants to woo firms involved in all levels of the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain via a multibillion-dollar green technology. "As worldwide demand shifts increasingly towards cleaner forms of energy, Canada's critical minerals resources and battery supply chains will play a vital role in how we get there," said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yasutoshi Nishimura, Jonathan Wilkinson, David Ljunggren, Chizu Organizations: Japanese Industry, Natural, EV, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, Canada, Japan, Quebec

☆ Japan PM to Include Five Women in Cabinet - Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet will include five female ministers, the same number as in two previous administrations, Japanese media reported on Wednesday, as the premier seeks to boost his sagging ratings with fresh faces. About 43% of respondents disapproved of Kishida's leadership while 36% approved, according to a poll by public broadcaster NHK conducted last week. Yoko Kamikawa, a former justice minister who oversaw the execution of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult that carried out a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, will become foreign minister, the media outlets said. The number of women in cabinet is the same as previous cabinets led by former premiers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe. Kishida has also appointed pro-Taiwan politician Minoru Kihara to head the defence ministry, while retaining Shunichi Suzuki as finance minister and Yasutoshi Nishimura as economic minister, the media outlets said.

Persons: Fumio Kishida's, Kishida, Yoko Kamikawa, Sanae, Junichiro Koizumi, Shinzo Abe, Minoru Kihara, Suzuki, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Sakura Murakami, Miral Fahmy Organizations: NHK Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, Taiwan

☆ Japan says may take China to WTO over Fukushima-driven seafood import ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan would take "necessary action (on China's aquatic product ban) under various routes including the WTO framework". Filing a WTO complaint might become an option if protesting to China through diplomatic routes is ineffective, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi said separately. Japan's National Police Agency has received 225 reports of harassment calls to date, Jiji News reported, and the government said it was seeking help from telecommunications companies to block the calls. NTT and other phone companies including KDDI (9433.T) and SoftBank Corp (9434.T) are discussing measures following the government's request. "It is extremely regrettable and concerning about the large number of harassment calls that have likely come from China," Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said during a news conference.

Persons: Tom Bateman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Kantaro Komiya, Mariko Katsumura, Sakura Murakami, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, World Trade Organization, Economic, Japan's National Police Agency, Jiji News, NTT Communications, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Thomson Locations: Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, China, WTO

☆ Japan PM to meet fishing industry leaders over Fukushima water
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, Japan August 20, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will on Monday meet fishing industry representatives in a bid to convince them of the safety of treated radioactive water due to be released from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. The water has been treated to remove most radioactive elements except for tritium, a hydrogen isotope that must be diluted because it is difficult to filter. Despite such assurances, the prospect of more than a million tons of water being pumped into the Pacific from the nuclear plant owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company (9501.T) has raised alarm. Japanese Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura is due to meet the same fishing industry leaders before the Kishida meeting.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Satoshi Sugiyama, Elaine Lies, Muralikumar Organizations: Japan's, Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Citizens, Japanese Industry, Thomson Locations: Okuma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, Tokyo, China, South Korea

☆ South Korea to return to Japan's 'white list' for exports on July 21
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - Japan will reinstate South Korea to its "white list" for exports with fast-track trade status effective July 21, Japanese trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Tuesday, a crucial step for resolving an economic row between the two nations. Japan lifted export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea in March as the nations mended ties amid North Korea's repeated missile launches and China's stepping up defence activities. South Korea's trade ministry welcomed the move as a "complete recovery of trust between the two countries in export control". The ministry also said it would work closely with Tokyo on bilateral and multilateral export control issues in future. Reporting by Miho Uranaka in TOKYO, Hyunsu Yim in SEOUL, writing by Kaori Kaneko Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yasutoshi Nishimura, Miho Uranaka, Hyunsu Yim, Kaori Kaneko, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: South, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, South Korea, Tokyo, SEOUL

☆ Japan to open up Apple- and Google-dominated phone apps to competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] An Apple logo hangs above the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York City, July 21, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoTOKYO, June 17 (Reuters) - Japan plans to stoke competition in smartphone app payments, dominated by Apple (AAPL.O) and Google, by banning major app store operators from forcing software developers to use the operators' own payment systems, a government panel said. Apple's iOS and Android from Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google roughly split Japan's mobile OS market. Apple allows users to download iPhone apps only through its own app store, while both Apple and Google require software developers to use proprietary payment systems that charge commissions of up to 30%. Members of the government panel include Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.

Persons: Mike Segar, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Shigeyuki Goto, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Lincoln Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, stoke, Google, Asahi Shimbun, Industry, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, TOKYO, Japan

☆ Japan increases support for domestic EV battery output
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The move shows Tokyo is confident about ramping up battery production support after the United States and Japan struck a deal on electric vehicle (EV) battery minerals in March that is key to giving Japanese automakers wider access to a new $7,500 U.S. EV tax credit. The government will support Toyota for up to 117.8 billion yen ($841 million) in subsidies for its investment in EV battery production, Nishimura said, adding he hoped it would strengthen Japan's storage battery supply chain. Japan has designated batteries for energy storage, including car batteries, as important under an economic security law. It had announced 184.6 billion yen in support for storage battery-related proposals at that time. Friday's announcement of 127.6 billion yen in subsidies brought the total so far to 312.2 billion yen.

Persons: Aly, Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, METI, Japan's, David Dolan, Daniel Leussink, Hugh Lawson, Sonali Paul, David Evans Organizations: Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Toyota, EV, Economy, Trade, Industry, Union, Toyota Industries, Honda, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, TOKYO, Japan, Tokyo, United States, U.S

☆ China urges Japan to end curbs on chip exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s commerce minister has urged Japan to end its newly announced curbs on exports of chipmaking equipment, saying it would hurt economic and trade relations between the two countries. In March, Japan announced it would tighten rules on exports of 23 types of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, joining the United States and the Netherlands in curbing the sale of key technology to China. On May 23, the commerce ministry issued a statement calling on Japan to “immediately” stop the export restrictions and said China would take measures to defend its interests. China's commerce minster, Wang Wentao, left, met Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's trade minister, in Detroit last week. China has its own chip manufacturers, but they supply mostly low- to mid-end processors used in home appliances and electric vehicles.

BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao urged Japan to halt semiconductor export controls, calling it a "wrongdoing" that "seriously violated" international economic and trade rules, a statement from his ministry said on Monday. China's latest condemnation of the export restrictions was made during Wang's talks with Japanese Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on May 26 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit. Japan, along with the Netherlands, in January agreed to match U.S. export controls that will limit the sale of some chipmaking tools to China, and has placed restrictions on the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to its neighbour. Japan has not singled out China in its statements about the export controls, saying only that it is fulfilling its duty to contribute to international peace and stability. Monday's statement from the Chinese commerce ministry also said, however, that China "is willing to work with Japan to promote practical cooperation in key economic and trade areas."

☆ China urges Japan to stop imposing chip export controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao urged Japan to correct its "wrongdoing" of imposing chip export controls, according to a statement from the Chinese commerce ministry on Monday. Wang made the comments during talks with Japanese Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on May 26 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. Wang was quoted as saying that Japan had ignored China's strong opposition and opinion within the industry and that its actions "seriously violated" international economic and trade rules. "China is willing to work with Japan to promote pratical cooperation in key economic and trade areas," the statement also quoted Wang as saying. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Washington and Tokyo vow closer chip cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), talks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan, April 5, 2023. In a joint statement, the two countries agreed to increase cooperation between their research and development hubs, as they map out future technology collaboration. The statement came after Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura met in Detroit with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The two countries agreed to work together "to identify and resolve geographic concentrations of production undermining semiconductor supply chain resilience". Raimondo on Thursday met China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Washington where the pair exchanged views on trade, investment and export policies.

"The international community is at a crossroads in history," Prime Minister Kishida told a briefing following his more than hour-long meeting with Biden. Japan, although a longtime buyer of Russian oil, has moved in tandem with G7 sanctions against Moscow following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That military action has also raised fears among Japanese that China could be emboldened to take action against neighbouring, self-ruled Taiwan unless Russia is stopped. TIGHTEN SANCTIONSThe G7 will aim to tighten sanctions on Russia to prevent it skirting measures already in place, Germany's leader, Olaf Scholz, said on Thursday. Kishida later said he and Biden had agreed to continue "strict sanctions against Russia as well strong support for Ukraine".

☆ Ahead of G7, Japan PM welcomes more investment from global chipmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he welcomed and expected more investment from global chipmakers in Japan, which is striving to revive its chip sector, after meeting top executives on Thursday before a Group of Seven summit. Growing Taiwan and U.S. tensions with China have brought serious challenges to the semiconductor industry, with Taiwan a major producer of chips used in everything from cars and smartphones to fighter jets. "I am very pleased with your positive attitude towards investment in Japan, and would like the government as a whole to work on further expanding direct investment in Japan and support the semiconductor industry," Kishida said. In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (4901.T). The G7 summit runs from Friday to Sunday, and Kishida is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden later on Thursday.

☆ Chipmakers look to Japan as worries about China grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he welcomed and expected more investment from global chipmakers, after meeting top executives on Thursday before a Group of Seven summit. Growing Taiwan and US tensions with China have brought serious challenges to the semiconductor industry. “I am very pleased with your positive attitude towards investment in Japan, and would like the government as a whole to work on further expanding direct investment in Japan and support the semiconductor industry,” Kishida said. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets executives of major global chipmakers ahead of a G7 summit. In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (FUJIF).

☆ Japanese chipmaker Rapidus considers listing for capex needs -Kyodo
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 3 (Reuters) - Japanese microchip maker Rapidus estimates that it needs about 2 trillion yen ($14.71 billion) for technological development, for which it will seek mid to long-term assistance from the government, the company's chairman told the Kyodo news agency. The company also requires an additional 3 trillion yen to fund mass production and is considering listing to raise capital for that purpose, Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said in the interview published on Wednesday. Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said last week the government plans to give 260 billion yen in additional subsidy on top of a 70 billion yen funding. Rapidus is planning to build a cutting-edge two-nanometre chip factory in Japan's northern major island of Hokkaido. "Going public is a major means of forming the foundation of the company" as a way to raise 3 trillion yen, Higashi said in the interview.

☆ G7 should adopt 'risk-based' AI regulation, ministers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But such regulation should also "preserve an open and enabling environment" for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values, G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Japan. EU lawmakers on Thursday reached a preliminary agreement on a new draft of its upcoming AI Act, including copyright protection measures for generative AI, following a call for world leaders to convene a summit to control such technology. Vestager, EU's tech regulation chief, said the bloc "will have the political agreement this year" on the AI copyright legislation, such as labelling obligations for AI-generated images or music. Japan, this year's chair of G7, meanwhile, has taken an accommodative approach on AI developers, pledging support for public and industrial adoption of AI. Japan will host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in late May, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss AI rules with world leaders.

TOKYO, April 28 (Reuters) - Japan will provide as much as $1.8 billion in subsidies for a slate of storage battery and chip-related projects, Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Friday, marking Tokyo's latest push towards greater supply chain security. The government plans to give up to 184.6 billion yen ($1.38 billion) in subsidies for eight storage battery-related proposals and up to 56.4 billion yen for two semiconductor-related projects, Nishimura told reporters. Among the proposals that it will subsidise is a plan by automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) and battery maker GS Yuasa Corp (6674.T) to invest about 430 billion yen to boost storage battery production, with the ministry providing up to 158.7 billion yen in subsidies for the project. "We have great expectations that this will lead to the stable supply of storage batteries and the promotion of GX (green transformation)," Nishimura said. In a statement, Honda, GS Yuasa and their 14-year-old battery joint venture Blue Energy Co Ltd, said they planned to start production in April 2027 and would start mass production in October 2027.

☆ G7 vows to step up moves to renewable energy, zero carbon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Japan won endorsements from fellow G-7 countries for its own national strategy emphasizing so-called clean coal, hydrogen and nuclear energy to help ensure its energy security. The stipulation that countries rely on "predominantly" clean energy by 2035 leaves room for the continuation of fossil-fuel-fired power. The G-7 nations account for 40% of the world's economic activity and a quarter of global carbon emissions. The document crafted in Sapporo included significant amounts of nuance to allow for differences between the G-7 energy strategies, climate advocates said. "I think energy security is being exaggerated in some cases," Kerry said, pointing to Germany's progress in embracing renewable energy.

SAPPORO, Japan, April 15 (Reuters) - Members of the Group of Seven rich nations must act to help emerging countries reduce emissions, including the financing of decarbonisation in "hard-to-abate" industries, Japan's economy and trade minister said on Saturday. Ministers from the G7 are meeting for climate and energy talks in the Japan's northern city of Sapporo on Saturday and Sunday, as part of Japan's G7 presidency this year. The issue of emissions in emerging markets has long been a focus for developed countries. However, the world's richest countries need to do more to help emerging nations reduce carbon, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at E3G, a climate change think tank. There needs to be "much stronger leadership" from G7 countries in leveraging financial and technology resources to help developing countries reduce emissions, Meyer said.

Search resuls for: "Yasutoshi Nishimura"

25 mentions found