Strengthening Bonds, Forging Futures: A Recap of the Japan-Canada Chambers Council 2023

By Matthew Holmes, Senior Vice-President of Policy and Government Relations, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Japan Canada Chambers Council (JCCC), for its 7^th joint meeting on November 1, 2023, brought together hundreds of Canadian and Japanese business leaders to Tokyo for a day of deep and energized discussion on the future of the Canada-Japan relationship. This year, the JCCC was very happy to also welcome the participation of the more than 160 Canadian organizations that were part of the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan.

The JCCC: A Catalyst for Progress

As the only Asian member of the G7, Japan’s economy represents tremendous potential for Canadian businesses. In a world that is increasingly looking at “friendshoring” between allies and de-risking supply chains, Japan’s free market economy and commitment to the rule of law make it an even more attractive market for Canada. Japan not only seeks many of the goods and services Canada produces, it is also a deep source of capital that is looking for opportunities abroad.

Founded in 2014 as a joint project of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the JCCC serves as a shared platform for building relationships, sharing knowledge, and advocating for policies to support bilateral trade and investment. Every year the JCCC brings together senior executives and business voices from both countries to exchange information and develop common goals around international trade and investment policy.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties in Uncertain Times

The focus of this year’s JCCC meeting was clear: accelerating economic cooperation between the two governments and fortifying ties between the Canadian and Japanese business communities. With the overall theme of “Strengthening the Canada-Japan Bilateral Relationship in Times of Uncertainty,” the discussions delved into crucial areas of focus that included: strengthening the bilateral relationship, increasing cooperation on economic security, and enhancing the framework for bilateral trade and investment.

The meeting featured distinguished speakers and participants, including the Hon. Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and Kiyoto Tsuji, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, who delivered keynote remarks.

Insights into Economic Security Cooperation

The first panel session of the day, titled “Bilateral Cooperation on Economic Security,” kicked off the discussion with a sweeping overview of the bilateral industrial relationships that are integral for promoting economic security within the context of the Net-Zero transition economy. Panelists Tatsuya Terasawa (Chairman and CEO, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan), Chris Davison (President & CEO, Canola Council of Canada), Ichiro Takahara (Chairman & CEO, Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security), and Brian Ceelen (Director of Commercial Development, E3 Lithium), provided invaluable insights on how both nations can collaborate to ensure access to reliable and sustainable sources of critical goods.

Charting the Course for Trade and Investment

The next panel session, “Creating a Framework for Expanding Bilateral Trade & Investment,” was introduced by Shaheen Amirali (Chief External Affairs & Sustainability Officer, AltaGas).

The panel featured perspectives from Mairead Lavery (President & CEO, Export Development Canada), Satoru Someya (Executive Officer, COO, CMO, TradeWaltz Inc), as well as Paul Thoppil (Canada’s Indo-Pacific Trade Representative). These leaders explored new avenues for facilitating trade and investment, particularly in the emerging domain of digital trade, and underlined the ways in which small and medium enterprise can also benefit from strengthened bilateral trade and between Canada and Japan.

A Signing Ceremony and Networking Reception

The event also witnessed a significant moment with the signing ceremony of the annual JCCC Joint Statement. Tatsuo Yasunaga, the Japan Co-Chair of the JCCC, and Steven Dechka, the Canada Co-Chair of the JCCC, signed the Joint Statement and solidified the commitment on both sides to the bilateral relationship. This was witnessed by Ian McKay, Canada’s Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy to the Indo-Pacific, and Yamanouchi Kanji, Japan’s Ambassador to Canada.

The Joint Statement highlights the imperative need for tangible action to deepen the economic partnership between Japan and Canada. It calls on both governments to strengthen the Canada-Japan bilateral relationship by enhancing cooperation on economic security and by expanding bilateral trade and investment.

You can read the statement here.

The formal component of the day concluded with a networking reception and lunch. Perrin Beatty (President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce), Tatsuo Yasunaga, the Japan Co-Chair of the JCCC, and both Ambassadors shared their concluding thoughts, after which participants continued to exchange ideas .

In these discussions and interactions, a shared vision for economic cooperation and global stability emerged. This commitment to fostering collaboration between Japan and Canada is indicative of the dedication of both business communities to overcoming challenges and building a future of shared prosperity.

And once the work was done, what trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without some incredible sights and food… I’ve included a few snapshots below from a great trade mission!

To conclude the successful Team Canada Mission and our JCCC event, Ambassador Ian McKay hosted an informal BBQ on the grounds of his official residence in Tokyo, with closing remarks by the Hon. Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Glasses raised to new friendships and strengthened trade between Canada and Japan: kanpai!

In this spirit of collaboration, we extend our sincere appreciation to our sponsors— Export Development Canada, AltaGas, and Manulife—for their invaluable support in making this event a success, as well as to our partners at the JCCI and the Embassy of Canada to Japan.