- Japan is considering an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Ecuador to strengthen trade, energy security and critical minerals supply chains.
- Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will hold talks with President Daniel Noboa to accelerate negotiations on the proposed agreement.
Japan is considering an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Ecuador as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation, secure stable energy supplies and diversify access to critical minerals.
According to government sources, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit Ecuador for high-level meetings with President Daniel Noboa and other senior officials to advance discussions on the proposed agreement. The talks will also focus on strengthening cooperation in support of a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Japan is pursuing closer economic ties with Latin American countries as it seeks to diversify strategic partnerships and strengthen supply chain resilience amid growing geopolitical competition.
During the visit, Motegi is expected to reaffirm Japan’s commitment to accelerating negotiations towards the conclusion of the Economic Partnership Agreement. Ecuador plays an important role in Japan’s energy and resource security strategy as an oil-producing nation and a significant source of critical minerals, including gold and copper.
Japan expects the proposed agreement to secure more stable supplies of crude oil and strategic minerals while strengthening supply chains for industries that depend on these resources.
The Japanese government also aims to improve the competitiveness of Japanese businesses operating in Ecuador. Currently, Japanese companies face higher tariff barriers than competitors from China and the European Union, reducing their ability to compete effectively in the Ecuadorian market.
Officials believe that concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement would create more favourable trading conditions for Japanese exporters and investors while expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
The proposed agreement builds on growing diplomatic engagement between the two countries. President Daniel Noboa and Ecuador’s Foreign Minister visited Japan last year and expressed support for concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement to deepen trade and investment relations.