US, Japan Commit to 'Rigorous Enforcement' of Tech 'Protection Measures'
The U.S. and Japan this week agreed to improve “technology protection” measures and enforcement coordination as part of a new Technology Prosperity Deal. Japan also agreed to pursue new sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet, strengthen foreign investment reviews and commit to work with the U.S. to strengthen critical minerals supply chains.
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The Technology Prosperity Deal, signed by both countries Oct. 28, said the two sides plan to “usher in the next Golden Age of Innovation” through greater collaboration on scientific research and advanced technologies. The deal specifically mentions AI, saying the U.S. and Japan plan to promote exports “across our full AI stack” while “ensuring the rigorous enforcement of existing protection measures while acknowledging the importance of strengthening such measures related to critical and emerging technologies.”
They plan to deepen cooperation to advance “high-performance computing, leading-edge semiconductor technologies, and quantum computing that underpin the AI era,” saying that will help “support the adoption of a U.S. and Japan-led AI technology ecosystem.” The countries will help promote exports across the “full stack” of U.S. and Japanese AI infrastructure, hardware, models, software and applications.
The Trump administration earlier this year announced plans for a new program to increase U.S. exports of AI technologies and services as part of an effort to spread the adoption of American AI systems around the world (see 2507240019), and it signed a similar deal with the U.K. in September to promote U.S. and U.K. AI exports (see 2509190028).
Another section of the U.S.-Japan deal touches on research security, saying they plan to improve coordination “across critical and emerging technology research and development,” to “protect their technologies and their people.” They specifically plan to work together to “identify and mitigate threats” to advanced technology research, including by working with universities and research institutions in both countries.
The U.S. and Japan also plan to find and address "vulnerabilities" in pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chains, according to the deal. “The Participants intend to collaborate on supply chain security throughout all phases of development and across academic, government, and industry stakeholders, including contract research organizations and contract development and manufacturing organizations, to support resilient and healthy economies.”
The deal was announced as Trump visits Japan as part of a broader trip through Asia. A White House fact sheet touting agreements secured during Trump’s visit said Japan committed to “pursue new sanctions frameworks to target vessels linked to shadow fleets and disrupt shadow fleet activity.” Those actions will be taken “in close coordination” with the U.S. and the Group of 7 nations, the fact sheet said.
It also said the U.S. and Japan agreed to address certain risks arising from foreign investments, including outbound investments. “The U.S. and Japan committed to strengthening and applying comprehensive mechanisms for reviewing inbound investment and addressing risks from outbound investments based on national security.”
The two sides also agreed to a framework to strengthen their critical minerals and rare earths supply chains. The U.S. and Japan said they “plan to accomplish this through use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment to accelerate development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths,” among other steps.