Japan keen to team up with ASEAN for free trade system

"We want to protect the rules-based multilateral trade system as we engage in constructive dialogue with the United States while working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," he said at a press conference in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, an ASEAN member, on Tuesday.

In Bangkok, Muto attended the first meeting of the ministerial Energy and Industry Dialogue between Japan and Thailand the same day.

At the meeting, the two countries adopted a joint statement calling for advancing the decarbonization of automobiles under a "multi-pathway" approach, which includes the promotion of diverse vehicles such as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in efforts to transition to a low-carbon society.

"We shared the recognition that there is a need for multi-pathway measures instead of focusing solely on electric vehicles," Muto told reporters after the meeting, which was also attended by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Pichai Chunhavajira.

At the beginning of the bilateral meeting, Pichai said he believes Thailand can solidify its position as a vehicle production hub with strong and diverse supply chains by learning state-of-the-art technologies on clean energy and next-generation automobiles from Japan.

The 10th-largest automobile producer in the world by volume, Thailand serves as a major production and export base for Japanese automakers.

The joint statement also underlined the importance of promoting a circular economy as well as maintaining and further developing competitive supply chains and human resources.

Japan and Thailand plan to hold the second meeting of the Energy and Industry Dialogue within a year after working-level officials from both sides flesh out the agreements reached at the first meeting.

On Monday, Muto visited Malaysia, this year's ASEAN chair nation, and met with its investment, trade and industry minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

Muto said that he and Tengku Zafrul exchanged information on the current state regarding tariff negotiations with the United States.

Tengku Zafrul told Muto that ASEAN will continue constructive dialogue with Washington while maintaining the rules-based multilateral trade system, and that Malaysia views the situation as an opportunity to reinforce ASEAN's supply chains, according to the Japanese minister.