The key facts

  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised the issue of the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act bill in a conversation with Macron on November 5
  • Tokyo asks Paris to take 'appropriate measures'; concerns relate to possible restrictions on market access
  • The conversation lasted about 30 minutes and also covered security, AI, space, the Middle East, and energy

Tokyo turned to Paris over an EU bill

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed 'serious concern' over the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) proposed by the European Union during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, November 5. According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she conveyed Tokyo's objections to the legislation and asked Paris to take appropriate measures. The leaders agreed to continue close consultations on the issue, including through bilateral channels.

What is known about the bill

The IAA is conceived as a measure to strengthen Europe's industrial competitiveness and accelerate decarbonization. However, as Anadolu notes, its provisions have raised concerns among the EU's foreign trade partners due to potential restrictions on market access — this is precisely what became the subject of Tokyo's complaints. The details of the specific provisions that drew Japan's objections are not disclosed in the report.

Other topics of the conversation

The conversation lasted about 30 minutes and began at 17:35 Tokyo time (08:35 GMT). Takaichi welcomed progress in bilateral cooperation in the fields of security, defense, artificial intelligence, space, and economic security; Macron expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in these areas. The leaders also discussed rising tensions in the Middle East, agreeing on the importance of swift de-escalation and stabilization, and exchanged views on energy security amid continued uncertainty in global energy markets, pledging to maintain close contact on these issues.