Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
The or METI, is a ministry of the Government of Japan. It was created by the 2001 Central Government Reform when the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) merged with agencies from other ministries related to economic activities, such as the Economic Planning Agency.
METI has jurisdiction over a broad policy area, containing Japan's industrial/trade policies, energy security, control of arms exports, "Cool Japan", etc.
The Ministry has its headquarters in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Its current head is Yasutoshi Nishimura, who was appointed minister by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in August 2022.
Overview
The mission stipulated in Article 3 of the Act for the Establishment of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Act No. 99 of 1999) is to "enhance the economic vitality of the private sector and develop economic and industrial development centered on the smooth development of foreign economic relations, as well as the stable and efficient development of mineral and energy resources." In order to achieve the goal of ensuring supply, it has jurisdiction over macroeconomic policies, industrial policies, trade policies, trade control operations, industrial technology policies, distribution policies, and energy policies.
Some middle-ranking bureaucrats selected from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are based in the Japan External Trade Organization in foreign countries and are engaged in various research work as industrial investigators.
Since many of the industrial policies initiated by METI, such as the nuclear fuel cycle program and the 5th generation computer program and software development program ("Sigma Plan"), have failed, the ministry is not highly regarded or trusted in Japan in the 21st century.
History
The Ministry's predecessor, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, was in operation from 25 May 1949 to 5 January 2001. However, due to the reorganisation of central government ministries and agencies on 6 January 2001, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was established by reorganising and renaming the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
In the past, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was regarded as the driving force behind high economic growth as the "Economic General Staff Headquarters", the general control centre of the Japanese economy or Japan Inc.
It made full use of the licences and administrative guidance that it possessed, and was mainly in charge of industrial policy, using allocated loans (FILP) from government-affiliated financial institutions, budget allowances, and subsidies as sources of power. In addition, it held a wide range of authority in areas such as science and technology research and development, trade, patents, energy policy, and small and medium enterprise policy according to technological innovation. It was also involved in monetary policy.
However, after Japan's period of high economic growth ended, one-off policy ideas were inevitably created because, despite having a wide range of authority, they were unable to administer licensing and subsidies compared to other ministries and agencies such as "operational government agencies", it became the main one. Ad balloons for various new policies are launched around May and June every year. For this reason, while the Ministry of Finance is still a "general government agency" that is widely involved in decision-making through fiscal policy, budget assessments, and taxation, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is an "administrative department store" that has jurisdiction over most industries. It is described as a "limited general government office".
Structure
METI is organized into the following bureaus, offices, departments and 3 agencies (Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Japan Patent Office):
Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau
Economic and Industrial Policy Division
Macro Economic Affairs Division
Industrial Structure Policy Division
Industrial Organization Division
Industrial Revitalization Division
Industrial Finance Division
Corporate Affairs Division
Research and Statistics Department
Regional Economic and Industrial Policy Division
Business Environment Promotion Division
Industrial Facilities Division
Regional Technology Division
Trade Policy Bureau
Multilateral Trade System Department
Trade Policy Division
Research and Analysis Division
Economic Partnership Division
Americas Division
Europe, Middle East, and Africa Division
Asia and Pacific Division
Northeast Asia Division
Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau
Trade Control Department
Trade Control Policy Division
Trade Licensing Division
Security Export Control Policy Division
Security Export Licensing Division
Trade and Investment Facilitation Division
Trade Financial and Economic Cooperation Division
Financial Cooperation Division
Technical Cooperation Division
Trade Insurance Division
Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau
Industrial Science and Technology Policy Division
Technology Evolution and Research Division
Academia-Industry Cooperation Promotion Division
Technology Promotion Division
Research and Development Division
Technical Regulations, Standards, and Conformity Assessment Policy Division
Measurement and Intellectual Infrastructure Division
Environmental Policy Division
Recycling Promotion Division
Manufacturing Industries Bureau
Infrastructure and Advanced Systems Promotion Office
Creative Industries Promotion Office ("Cool Japan Office")
Water Industry and Infrastructure Systems Promotion Office
Monodzukuri Policy Planning Office
Office for Intellectual Property Right Infringement and International Trade
Iron and Steel Division
Iron and Steel Technology Office
Nonferrous Metals Division
Chemical Management Policy Division
Chemical Safety Office
Chemical Weapon and Drug Materials Control Policy Office
Fluoride Gases Management Office
Chemical Risk Assessment Office
Chemicals Division
Fine Chemicals Office
Alcohol Office
Bio-Industry Division
Bio-Business Promotion Office
Housing Industry, Ceramics and Construction Materials Division
Fine Ceramics, Nanotechnologies and Advanced Materials Policy Planning Office
Industrial Machinery Division
Robot Industry Office
International Projects Promotion Office
Machine Parts and Tooling Industries Office
Automobile Division
Electric Vehicle and Advanced Technology Office
ITS Promotion Office
Automobile Recycling Policy Office
Aerospace and Defense Industry Division
Space Industry Office
Vehicle Division
Textile and Clothing Division
Fashion Policy Office
International Textile and Clothing Trade Office
Paper Industry, Consumer and Recreational Goods Division
Consumer Goods Office
Traditional Craft Industry Office
Design Policy Office
Commerce and Information Policy Bureau
Information Policy Division
IT Project Office
Information and International Policy Office
Office for IT Security Policy
Information and Communication Electronics Division
Device Industry Strategy Office
Environmental Affairs and Recycling Office
Digital Consumer Electronics Strategy Office
Information Service Industry Division
Local Informatization and Human Resource Development Office
Service Affairs Policy Division
Service Industries Office
Healthcare Industries Division
Medical and Assistive Device Industries Office
Creative Industries Division
Fashion Policy Office
Cool Japan Promotion Office
Design Policy Office
Consumer Goods Office
Traditional Craft Industry Office
Media and Content Industry Division
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
Japan Patent Office
Minister's Secretariat
Regional Bureaus & Industrial Safety and Inspection Department
Incorporated Administrative Agencies
List of ministers
Controversial circumstance
In July 2019, when the diplomatic relations were distorted due to differences in the views of the South Korean government on the issue of recruitment workers and comfort women, restrictions were taken on the export of semiconductor components without any consultation with South Korea.
Footnotes
External links
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(in Japanese)
2001 establishments in Japan
Ministries established in 2001
Economy of Japan
Economy, Trade and Industry
Anti-dumping authorities
Trade policy of Japan
Japan
Japan
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Industry in Japan