Parliamentary Vice-Minister Sato attends WTO-related (Ottawa Group) Ministerial Meeting via Video Conference

The Ottawa Group was inaugurated in 2018, bringing together like-minded WTO members* proactive in WTO reform under the leadership of Canada as its chair. Since the spread of COVID-19, the group has been continuously advancing discussions for the purpose of compiling proposals on approaches to securing members’ access to medical supplies.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Sato, Mr. Shikata, Director General of the Economic Affairs Bureau of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Ushikusa, Deputy Assistant Minister for International Affairs attended this meeting as representatives of Japan. Participants held discussions mainly on WTO reform with H.E. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, and United States Trade Representative Tai also joining the meeting.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Sato made the following comments at the meeting.