Japanese and ASEAN Economic Ministers Agree to Advance Free Trade

According to a report by Kyodo News, Japan and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economic ministers held an online meeting on the 20th. In light of the rise of protectionism globally due to the high tariff policies of the Trump administration in the United States, the participants agreed to promote free trade. The meeting resulted in a joint statement emphasizing the "recognition of the importance of strengthening trust and cooperation to address common issues." The participants also agreed to work together to support a rules-based trade system amid increasing global economic uncertainty and to enhance cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automobiles. The ASEAN side emphasized that they would not take countermeasures against the U.S. tariff measures and would engage in constructive dialogue with the U.S.