Japan

米政府、中国の企業とタンカーに制裁－ベネズエラへの圧力強化

Yahoo Finance | Local Language | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned four Chinese companies and four associated oil tankers linked to Venezuela’s oil industry on December 31, 2025. The affected companies—Corniora in Zhejiang Province and Aries Global Investment, Creip Martle, and Winky International in Hong Kong—were added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list. The four tankers named are Della, Nord Star, Rosalind, and Valiant. These actions aim to increase pressure on Venezuela’s oil exports, a crucial revenue source for the Maduro regime.

The sanctions are significant because it is unusual for the U.S. to target Chinese companies operating on the ground in Venezuela, possibly signaling a warning to the Chinese government to avoid involvement in the U.S.-Venezuela confrontation. China remains Venezuela’s largest oil export destination, with oil constituting about 95 percent of Venezuela’s revenue. The Treasury described some of the tankers as part of a "shadow fleet" used by the Maduro regime to evade sanctions and fund destabilizing activities.

Additional U.S. measures include sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran and Venezuela suspected of arms dealings, Coast Guard seizures and pursuits of vessels tied to drug trafficking or sanctions evasion, and naval attacks resulting in the sinking of three vessels. These military operations underscore the increased U.S. efforts to disrupt Venezuela’s oil trade and narcotics trafficking.

China condemned the U.S. blockade of Venezuelan ports as “one-sided bullying” and argued that vessel seizures breach international law. Despite officially halting Venezuelan crude imports in 2019 due to U.S. sanctions, China resumed imports in February 2024, although unofficial purchases reportedly continued throughout the period, often through disguised shipments.

世界電気自動車バリューチェーンにおける構造変化とカーボン・パリティ

Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry | Local Language | AcademicThink | Jan. 2, 2026 | UndeterminedSupply Chain Issues

The global electric vehicle (EV) industry is undergoing significant structural transformation, with China dominating the value chain from mineral refining to battery manufacturing and vehicle assembly, capturing over 80 percent of domestic value added per EV. EV adoption and market shares vary by region, with China, Europe, and the U.S. as major players, and countries like Norway showing the highest EV penetration rates in operation and new car sales. Batteries, accounting for 40 percent of EV costs, alongside motors and controllers, are central to the EV supply chain, with China and Southeast Asia leading battery manufacturing, notably through dominant companies like CATL.

The life-cycle carbon emissions of EVs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) differ across countries due to factors such as power grid carbon intensity and battery efficiency. EVs currently require several years of driving to reach carbon parity with ICEVs; for instance, 5.7 years in China, 7.6 in Japan, and 1.7 in the U.S. Improvements in battery technology and power-sector decarbonization can shorten these periods significantly. Although China emits more CO₂ during EV production due to energy-intensive processes, especially in battery manufacturing, overall EV emissions remain lower than ICEVs over time.

Policy approaches differ globally, with China providing substantial upstream subsidies fostering domestic ecosystem control, while countries like Japan offer downstream consumer subsidies, sometimes indirectly benefiting Chinese manufacturers. Import tariffs against Chinese EVs are high in regions like Europe and the U.S., posing market access challenges, whereas developing countries with weak domestic production and improving power infrastructure may become key future battlegrounds for EV adoption. Coordination between governments, industry, and academia is crucial for sustaining innovation and competitive advantage in the EV ecosystem.

Concerns exist regarding supply chain risks, particularly the imbalance between China's demand and supply of battery materials, driving Chinese investments in Latin America and Indonesia. Recycling of batteries is an emerging profitable sector in China, potentially impacting the global value chain. Developing countries with raw materials face challenges in securing technological capabilities and fair value sharing in the EV supply chain. Future policy shifts, exemplified by the EU allowing ICE vehicle sales post-2035, reflect geopolitical factors such as the Ukraine crisis and efforts to reduce dependence on China as a dominant EV exporter.

発注側の一方的な価格決定を禁止 下請けいじめ防ぐ改正法施行

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | Regulation

The revised "Act on the Properness of Transactions with Small and Medium Enterprise Contractors (Toritsekiho)" came into effect on January 1, 2026. This law aims to prevent unfair practices by large companies in subcontracting relationships with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It prohibits ordering parties from unilaterally setting transaction prices that do not reflect costs and bans the use of postdated promissory notes as a form of payment. The goal is to promote fair transactions throughout the supply chain and support SMEs in passing on costs and maintaining wage increases.

The law replaces the term "subcontracting" with "commissioning business operator" for the ordering party and "small and medium enterprise contractor" for the receiving party to emphasize equality in business relationships. It adds a prohibition against failing to negotiate prices with SMEs, addressing previously overlooked unfair practices. The legislation also seeks to shorten payment terms to reduce financial burdens on SMEs caused by delayed cash flow from promissory notes.

Applicability of the law no longer depends solely on capital size but also includes the number of employees. It primarily targets the manufacturing sector, applying when a company with more than 300 employees orders from a company with 300 or fewer employees. This revision aims to enhance the protection and sustainability of SMEs in business transactions with larger companies.