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Yomiuri Shimbun
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Industry Minister, Thai Deputy PM Meet in Bangkok for 1st Energy and Industry Dialogue Meeting; Agree to Promote Various Types of Vehicles
The Yomiuri Shimbun Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto, right, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira pose for a photo in Bangkok on Tuesday. BANGKOK — Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held talks with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira in Bangkok on Tuesday and issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of promoting not only electric vehicles (EVs) but also other types of vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The talks were held at the first meeting of the Energy and Industry Dialogue, a framework established by the Japanese and Thai governments to strengthen economic cooperation. The two countries agreed to work together to stimulate demand for vehicles with different propulsion systems. It was also confirmed that stimulating demand for pickup trucks, for which major Japanese automakers have strong sales, is important for maintaining the supply chain. The Thai government is prioritizing the promotion of the EV industry and providing subsidies for sales. As a result, Chinese manufacturers specializing in EVs are gaining a stronger foothold in Thailand, while Japanese manufacturers are losing market share. By issuing the joint statement, the Japanese government is apparently hoping to slow down the rapid shift to EVs in the Thai market. Muto and Pichai also exchanged information on the tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. '[The U.S. tariffs] also have a significant impact on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,' Muto said at a press conference after the meeting. 'We would like to engage in constructive dialogue with the United States while working with other countries.'
Japan Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Japan keen to team up with ASEAN for free trade system
Trade minister Yoji Muto has said the country wants to protect the free trade system in cooperation with Southeast Asia, in response to high tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. "We want to protect the rules-based multilateral trade system as we engage in constructive dialogue with the United States while working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," he said at a news conference in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, an ASEAN member, on Tuesday. In Bangkok, Muto attended the first meeting of the ministerial Energy and Industry Dialogue between Japan and Thailand the same day. At the meeting, the two countries adopted a joint statement calling for advancing the decarbonization of automobiles under a "multi-pathway" approach, which includes promoting diverse vehicles such as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in efforts to transition to a low-carbon society. "We shared the recognition that there is a need for multi-pathway measures instead of focusing solely on electric vehicles," Muto told reporters after the meeting, which was also attended by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Pichai Chunhavajira. At the beginning of the bilateral meeting, Pichai said he believes Thailand can solidify its position as a vehicle production hub with strong and diverse supply chains by learning state-of-the-art technologies on clean energy and next-generation automobiles from Japan. The 10th-largest automobile producer in the world by volume, Thailand serves as a major production and export base for Japanese automakers. The joint statement also underlined the importance of promoting a circular economy as well as maintaining and further developing competitive supply chains and human resources. Japan and Thailand plan to hold the second meeting of the Energy and Industry Dialogue within a year after working-level officials from both sides flesh out the agreements reached at the first meeting. On Monday, Muto visited Malaysia, this year's ASEAN chair nation, and met with its investment, trade and industry minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz. Muto said that he and Tengku Zafrul exchanged information on the current state regarding tariff negotiations with the U.S. Tengku Zafrul told Muto that ASEAN will continue constructive dialogue with Washington while maintaining the rules-based multilateral trade system, and that Malaysia views the situation as an opportunity to reinforce ASEAN's supply chains, according to the Japanese minister.
