According to Reuters, Japan and the United States will issue a joint statement pertaining to technology collaboration, furthering their shared commitment to enhanced cooperation in the realms of advanced chips research and development as well as other technological pursuits, according to the Japanese government.
Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will meet in Detroit in the U.S. on the sidelines of the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, Yomiuri reported earlier. In addition to semiconductors, they will discuss artificial intelligence and quantum technology, the newspaper added.
With the intent to foster stronger bonds between research and development centres in both Japan and the United States, officials from the Japanese side, who preferred to remain anonymous as they lacked the necessary authorisation to engage with the media, revealed to Reuters the ambitions of the two nations. This collaborative effort serves as yet another progressive stride as they diligently chart the course for their future technology cooperation.
Amidst mounting tensions and a desire to curtail their reliance on Chinese supply chains, Washington and Tokyo are actively collaborating to expand their chip manufacturing capabilities, recognising the pivotal role of advanced components in driving economic growth.
Japan has taken the initiative by establishing a novel chip manufacturer named Rapidus, which has embarked upon a joint venture with International Business Machines Corp (IBM) to pioneer the development of cutting-edge logic semiconductors.
Furthermore, Japan has extended subsidies to facilitate the expansion of production capabilities for U.S. memory maker Micron Technology Inc (MU.O). In parallel, Japan, in tandem with the Netherlands, has consented to align with the United States’ export controls, thereby imposing restrictions on the sale of certain chipmaking tools to China.
The meeting between Minister Nishimura and Secretary Raimondo assumes significance in light of the recent agreement reached by the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies during their gathering in Hiroshima, Japan. This accord reflects their collective resolve to mitigate their exposure to China’s economic coercion.
Secretary Raimondo recently engaged in discussions with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, in Washington, wherein the two counterparts exchanged perspectives on matters pertaining to trade, investment, and export policies.
