METI

METI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, is a government ministry in Japan responsible for policy related to the economy, trade, industry, and energy. It originated in 1949 as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and was renamed METI in 2001 to reflect its broader remit.

Core functions include promoting economic growth, improving industrial competitiveness, and fostering technological innovation. METI shapes industry policy, regulates and deregulates sectors as needed, oversees energy policy and resource security, and manages trade policy, export promotion, and foreign investment. It also supports collaboration among business, academia, and local governments to boost productivity and structural reform.

The ministry's structure includes key bureaus such as the Trade Policy Bureau, Industrial Policy Bureau, and Corporate Affairs Bureau. It oversees or coordinates several agencies, including the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). ANRE handles energy policy and resource management; NEDO conducts energy and industrial technology R&D; JETRO promotes trade and investment abroad.

Governance is led by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who is a Cabinet member. The minister is advised by Senior Vice-Ministers and Vice-Ministers, and is appointed on the Prime Minister’s recommendation with approval by the Diet.

METI has been central to Japan’s postwar economic planning, trade negotiations, energy policy, and technological development, and continues to shape manufacturing, digital economy initiatives, and energy security.