Subgroup 4 of the Partnership: Investment Initiative (2001–2010)

U.S. Agencies

Department of State

Japan Agencies

Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry

Meeting Frequency

2x/year for high-level meetings; 1x/year for working group.

Context

One of five Economic Partnership for Growth subgroups established in 2001.

Goals

To remove barriers to bilateral investment in both countries, but especially in Japan.

Significance

By 2009, despite a global recession, FDI in Japan increased from ¥6.6 trillion in 2002 to ¥18.5 trillion, growing from 0.2% of GDP to 3.6%. During this time, Japan’s FDI in the US also increased by 30%. After this initiative, Japan was the second-largest investor in the United States and the United States was Japan’s largest investor.