1. Overview

On September 21 (Thur.), 2023, Minister Nishimura signed a comprehensive memorandum of cooperation concerning battery supply chains from upstream to downstream, together with Minister Champagne, Minister Ng, Minister Wilkinson, and Ambassador Yamanouchi. This was the first time in Japan's history for it to sign a memorandum of cooperation concerning battery supply chains, and Canada is the first country in the world with which Japan has signed such a memorandum of cooperation. Based on this MOC, Japan intends to facilitate the entry of Japanese companies into Canada and aims to establish sustainable and reliable battery supply chains between Japan and Canada.

In the presence of the ministers of Japan and Canada, some private companies signed the following agreements.

• Agreement on technological cooperation in manufacturing anode active materials from graphite between Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. and Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.Link
• Memorandum of understanding on nickel resources in Canada between Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), FPX Nickel Corp. (FPX), and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC)Link

2. Key points of the MOC

Based on this MOC, Japan and Canada will cooperate in the following areas in order to establish sustainable and reliable battery supply chains from the perspective of carbon neutrality and economic security.

• Promoting existing public support in both countries for investment and other efforts in Canada by Japanese companies;
• Promoting mutual understanding between Japanese companies and relevant regulatory authorities in Canada;
• Promoting the establishment of meaningful relationships between Japanese companies and indigenous peoples in Canada;
• Collaboration in times of emergency in battery supply chains, including with respect to critical minerals;
• Promoting the use of renewable energy in battery supply chains;
• Discussing international standards, such as those on carbon footprint calculation; etc.

Related Material

• Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the Department of Industry of Canada, the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada Concerning Battery Supply Chains (in English, Japanese, and French)(PDF:420KB)PDF

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Related Links

• METI Minister Nishimura Visits Canada
• METI Minister Nishimura Signs Memorandum of Cooperation on Industrial Science and Technology

Division in Charge

Battery Industry Office, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau