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Asahi Shimbun
07-07-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
EDITORIAL: Trading rules that served the world so well must be rebuilt
A mine for rare-earth metals in Inner Mongolia, northern China (Reuters) Although the United States and China reached an agreement to mutually rescind high tariffs, there is still a potential for flareups. Avoiding further negative ramifications on the global economy is paramount. Ministerial-level discussions between the two nations in London in early June led Beijing to lift its restrictions on rare-earth metal exports to the United States. For its part, Washington partially removed restrictions on semiconductor-related exports to China. During the discussions, the focus was on China's restrictions on exports of rare-earth metals. Rare-earth metals are used in high-performance magnets and optical equipment. They are also indispensable to a wide range of products, from automobiles and home appliances to missiles and fighter jets. China has about a 70-percent share of the global market in rare-earth metals. From April, Beijing implemented a system to regulate rare-earth metal exports on grounds they could be used not only for commercial products but also military purposes. But China did not explain the standards it uses for the assessment. That led to concerns being raised by both the United States and Europe. In Japan, Suzuki Motor Corp. has had to stop production of some models. Beijing began restricting exports of rare-earth metals after a Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japan Coast Guard cutter close to the disputed Senkaku Islands in 2010. The move was seen as retaliation against Japan. However, China said it was simply protecting its resources. In 2012, Japan, the United States and Europe filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, which ruled against China. Even with its latest move, Beijing has not retracted its explanation that restrictions were needed because the metals could be used for both military and commercial purposes. This is not an issue that involves only criticizing China. Since his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. It was intended to thwart China from gaining the advantage in a sector that has direct national security implications. China's restrictions on rare-earth metals can be seen as tit-for-tat for the U.S. semiconductor restrictions. Whatever the reason, excuses for limiting or preventing trade should not be permitted. After two world wars, the global economy operated on the common understanding that a relationship based on free trade provides national security benefits to all. But that recognition now stands on the brink of collapse. An action plan was compiled at the June Group of Seven summit to diversify the sources of rare-earth metals. The intention was to move away from dependence on China, but doing so will likely be difficult in the near term, given the overwhelming share controlled by China. Every nation has national security considerations. But with the deeper mutual economic dependence now in place, nations need to figure out rules that protect the free trade order. In the background to the United States and China sitting down at the negotiating table lies the condition of mutual dependency, which differs from what existed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. We call on both superpowers to fulfill their responsibility. --The Asahi Shimbun, July 7
The Mainichi
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Indian curry born in cafeteria spicing up Suzuki Motor's business
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Suzuki Motor Corp., the longtime top carmaker in the Indian market, has launched sales of boil-in-the-bag curry, initially developed for Indian employees in Japan who longed for the taste of home. The Japanese automaker began selling four different varieties of Indian curry online on June 25 -- daikon radish sambar, tomato lentil, chickpea masala and moong dal green -- for 918 yen ($6) each, after months of tasting tests. The dishes were added to the menu at the head office's cafeteria with other Indian curries in January 2024 for vegetarian employees from India. The number of Indian employees, both short- and long-term, at its headquarters in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been steadily growing, the company said. Suzuki offered Japanese-style curry at the cafeteria but not Indian vegetarian curry until the new menu was introduced. The maker of motorcycles and small cars asked Torizen Co., a local bridal and restaurant business, to cooperate in developing the boil-in-the-bag versions of the four flavors. The packaging was designed by the company's vehicle designers based on its Swift hatchbacks and Jimny compact SUVs, known as the Samurai in some markets, and the Hayabusa and V-Strom1050DE motorcycle models.
Kyodo News
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Kyodo News
Indian curry born in cafeteria spicing up Suzuki Motor's business
TOKYO - Suzuki Motor Corp., the longtime top carmaker in the Indian market, has launched sales of boil-in-the-bag curry, initially developed for Indian employees in Japan who longed for the taste of home. The Japanese automaker began selling four different varieties of Indian curry online on June 25 -- daikon radish sambar, tomato lentil, chickpea masala and moong dal green -- for 918 yen ($6) each, after months of tasting tests. The dishes were added to the menu at the head office's cafeteria with other Indian curries in January 2024 for vegetarian employees from India. The number of Indian employees, both short- and long-term, at its headquarters in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been steadily growing, the company said. Suzuki offered Japanese-style curry at the cafeteria but not Indian vegetarian curry until the new menu was introduced. The maker of motorcycles and small cars asked Torizen Co., a local bridal and restaurant business, to cooperate in developing the boil-in-the-bag versions of the four flavors. The packaging was designed by the company's vehicle designers based on its Swift hatchbacks and Jimny compact SUVs, known as the Samurai in some markets, and the Hayabusa and V-Strom1050DE motorcycle models.
The Mainichi
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Suzuki halts production of Swift cars over China's rare earth export curbs
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Suzuki Motor Corp. has halted production of its flagship Swift compact hatchback due to China's export restrictions on rare-earth elements, sources close to the matter said Friday, marking the first suspension by a Japanese automaker tied to the curbs. The restrictions have caused delays in procuring parts that use rare earths, the sources said. The Chinese government in April imposed export controls on seven types of rare-earth minerals as part of its retaliation against U.S. tariffs. The move has already begun to disrupt production in the United States and Europe. Suzuki suspended production of the Swift, excluding the Sport model, at its Sagara plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on May 26. While it announced Thursday that it would partially resume production from June 13 and fully resume from June 16, it did not disclose the reason for the halt.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Suzuki Motor's boil-in-the-bag curry for Indian employees to hit store shelves
A package of Suzuki Motor Corp.'s brown chickpea masala curry. - The Yomiuri Shimbun HAMAMATSU, (Japan): A boil-in-the-bag version of the vegetarian curry developed for Indian employees of Suzuki Motor Corp. in Hamamatsu soon will hit store shelves. Suzuki, which employs many people from India, jointly developed authentic Indian vegetable curry for the company cafeteria with Torizen, a local company which operates restaurants and wedding halls in Hamamatsu. The curry has won favor among Indian employees who said it tastes like the cooking in their home country. Therefore, Suzuki decided to produce and sell boil-in-the-bag versions. Four different varieties of curry will go on sale, which are made with beans and other vegetables to suit the demands of people from India, where there are many vegetarians. One of the Suzuki curry varieties — brown chickpea masala curry — was given as a gift to guests at the memorial gathering for Osamu Suzuki, the former Suzuki chairman who passed away in December. The packages for the curry soon to go on sale will be adorned with illustrations of Suzuki vehicles, such as a Jimny four-wheel-drive car and a motorbike. 'Osamu Suzuki would often say India was his second home country. I hope many people will appreciate the authentic taste [of our Indian curry],' said a Suzuki employee. - The Yomiuri Shimbun
