It has emerged that Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川一俊) urged the EU to reconsider the Industrial Acceleration Bill, saying that conditions favoring European-made EVs could disadvantage Japanese companies.
The European Union (EU) is considering an Industrial Acceleration Bill that would support European-made EVs and other products by establishing preferential conditions for public procurement and subsidies. The bill is expected to include conditions such as the proportion of components sourced within the EU, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of the European market.
In an article contributed to the Financial Times, Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川一俊) of Japan's mission to the EU pointed out that the bill could disadvantage Japanese companies, given their current practice of sourcing components from outside the EU.
Ambassador Aikawa Kazutoshi (相川一俊) said that the reality of integrated supply chains must not be overlooked, and called for the development of reliable and secure supply chains incorporating Japanese companies, which he said was essential to strengthening Europe's competitiveness.
The bill is expected to be put to a vote in the European Parliament before year-end, with a final decision expected after consultations with member states and the European Commission.