日本、メルコスールとEPA交渉開始へ

According to a Reuters report on May 26, Japan is expected to begin negotiations on an economic partnership agreement with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc.

The report said the aims include securing alternative crude-oil suppliers, ensuring access to critical minerals and lowering tariffs on automobiles.

Because Japan depends heavily on the Middle East, it is seen as needing to diversify resource suppliers to limit the economic impact of disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

The move is also described as part of Japan's effort to reduce dependence on China for minerals including rare earths. Those materials are used in products such as electric vehicles and semiconductors.

According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, Japan and Mercosur launched a strategic partnership framework in January 2026 and have continued meetings since then.

At their second meeting in March, the two sides confirmed that further deepening economic relations had strategic importance, according to MOFA.

MOFA's summary says the Japanese side expressed interest in market access for industrial and manufactured goods, a better business environment, and stable supplies of minerals, energy and grains.

Mercosur, meanwhile, is said to place priority on market access for agricultural, forestry and fisheries products. Negotiations are likely to focus on adjusting those differing interests.

If the reported plan goes ahead, Japan would broaden options for both supply chains and export destinations. Mercosur would also be seen as gaining a wider path into the Japanese market.

However, MOFA also said in March that both sides needed to consider each other's sensitive sectors. That means a meaningful agreement could still take time.