Japan Denies Request for Trading Companies to Join Government’s Russia Visit
Government Response to Kyodo News Report
TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) – The Japanese government on Friday denied a report by Kyodo news agency that it has asked the country’s top trading houses to join a delegation which plans to visit Russia in May.
Details of the Kyodo News Report
Late on Thursday, citing sources, Kyodo said that the government is anticipating that Japanese companies will fully resume business in Russia once its war with Ukraine is over.
Companies Named in the Report
It added that the government has requested participation from Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo Corp, Marubeni, as well as from Mitsui O.S.K Lines shipping company.
Official Government Statements
Chief Cabinet Secretary’s Comments
“As for the factual accuracy of the report, it is not true. The Japanese government will continue to implement sanctions against Russia,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a regular news conference.
Context: Japan’s Sanctions and Oil Imports
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in 2022 and international diplomatic efforts have not yet led to a peace deal. Japan joined a wide range of western sanctions on Russia and largely stopped importing oil from there after 2022.
Impact on Japan’s Oil Supply
Japan’s dependence on the Middle East, which supplies over 90% of its oil needs, is being challenged as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran stops shipments via the Strait of Hormuz.
Industry and Company Responses
Japan’s industry ministry said separately it did not make any such requests to trading companies. Marubeni declined comment, other companies did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Katya Golubkova, Tamiyuki Kihara, Kaori Kaneko and Kentaro Okasaka; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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