Regarding the Industrial Acceleration Bill, under which the EU is promoting preferential treatment for EVs, Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川 一俊) urged the EU to reconsider the bill. In an article for the Financial Times, he pointed out that requirements such as component-procurement ratios could disadvantage Japanese companies.
Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川 一俊) said in an article for the Financial Times that the EU should reconsider its Industrial Acceleration Bill, warning that it could put Japanese companies operating in Europe at a disadvantage.
The bill aims to establish requirements including a certain proportion of components procured within the EU as a condition for receiving preferential treatment in public procurement and subsidies. Japanese automakers procure components from outside the EU, which could leave them at a disadvantage.
Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川 一俊) criticized the bill for “overlooking the realities of an integrated supply-chain ecosystem,” and said that building a reliable and secure supply chain incorporating Japanese companies is essential to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. He expressed the view that Japan and the EU should deepen cooperation amid a challenging geopolitical environment.
The bill is said to be intended to counter the price offensive by Chinese manufacturers and increase purchases of EU-made products suited to decarbonization. It is expected to be put to a vote in the European Parliament by year-end, with a final decision expected after consultations with member states and the European Commission.