Major Changes To Catch-All Export Controls (Effective October 2025)

1. Introduction

On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") announced an amendment to the regulations related to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act ("FEFTA") to catch-all export controls. The amendment will take effect on October 9, 2025.

The purpose of the amendment is to modify Japan's FEFTA regulations, in particular to revise the catch-all export control measures. The expected impact of the amendment on Japan's export control practices is profound.

2. Details of the Amendment

The most critical aspects of the amendment concern revisions to the catch-all export controls:

• Reclassification of Controlled Items
  The items subject to catch-all export controls will be divided into two categories. Items with a high risk of dual use—such as certain semiconductors and machine tools—will be designated as "core items, " while other items will remain under the general catch-all category.