“Takaichi plans to demand that Japan be included in the EU’s preferential treatment for electric vehicles at the US-US summit.”

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Do-yeon = The Nippon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 25th that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to demand that Japanese products not be excluded from the European Union's preferential policy for electric vehicles (EVs) at the summit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to be held on the 28th.

Previously, on the 16th (local time), Germany and France agreed on preferential measures for European electric vehicles (EVs) that the EU is considering.

This is a plan to provide subsidies and public procurement benefits only to electric vehicles assembled within the EU or with a certain percentage of parts produced within the region, in accordance with the draft Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA) announced by the European Commission in March.

If this agreement is confirmed at the EU level, electric vehicles produced in Japan will be excluded from preferential treatment and will not be able to receive subsidies, which is expected to result in a significant decline in sales in the European market.

Accordingly, Nikkei reported that Prime Minister Takaichi is coordinating a meeting with Prime Minister Merz to request that finished cars produced in Japan be included in the preferential treatment.

Previously, on the 20th, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa held a press conference and announced that he would strongly request the EU to revise the exclusion of Japanese products.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the number of passenger vehicles made by Japanese automakers sold in the EU last year reached 1.4 million, including electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles.

In addition, the summit between Germany and Japan will also discuss cooperation in the fields of economic security, advanced technology, and defense equipment, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity measures.

Also, Germany's participation in the 'Global Combat Air Program' (GCAP), a next-generation fighter development plan of three countries including Japan, the UK, and Italy, is expected to become an issue.

Meanwhile, Nikkei reported that Prime Minister Merz, who is visiting Japan for the first time since taking office, plans to meet with Japanese companies during his stay in Japan.