Canada is an “Important Partner” for Japan’s Energy Security, Says PM Takaichi

Canada is an “Important Partner” for Japan’s Energy Security, Says PM Takaichi

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Canada Is an “Important Partner” for Japan’s Energy Security, Says PM Takaichi cover

Key Takeaways

Japan Wants Canadian Oil: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments make clear that Japan sees Canada as an important energy partner and wants more reliable Canadian energy supply.

Energy Exports Strengthen Canada: Expanding exports to Japan and other Asian markets could diversify Canada’s trade, grow investment, and support jobs across the country.

Canada Has an Incredible Opportunity: As global demand for secure and dependable energy remains strong, Canada is well positioned to deliver the resources its allies and trading partners need.

Does Japan want more Canadian-made oil? Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent online post leaves little doubt, showing Canada has a major opportunity to supply the energy the world needs while creating jobs and economic growth at home.

Takaichi’s post above reinforces a point Canada Action has made for years: countries in Asia and Europe want more of our energy. For Japan, Canadian oil means greater energy security, as both the Prime Minister and her Ambassador, Kanji Yamanouchi, have said. For Canada, it means diversified export markets, a more independent economy, and long-term prosperity.

“A tanker loaded with Canadian crude oil arrived in Japan for the first time since the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East,” she stated in her post, calling Canada “an important partner in the field of economic security.”

She also said the two countries have advanced a new “comprehensive strategic partnership,” formalized during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to Japan, and noted that the “procurement of Canadian crude oil” was discussed at the summit as a concrete example of our growing strategic partnership.

Energy Critical to Trade with Japan

What’s clear is that energy is no longer a side issue in the Canada-Japan relationship; it has become a central pillar of bilateral trade. 

Takaichi went further, describing the shipment as “a concrete success story of cooperation between Japan and Canada in the field of energy security, following LNG and small modular reactors.”

This reflects a broader trend: countries increasingly see Canada as a reliable supplier of critical resources – like oil, natural gas, critical minerals, and uranium.

For many of our trading partners, Canadian energy is increasingly viewed as dependable, strategic, and essential to long-term stability. We’re a “trusted” trade partner, as Ambassador Yamanouchi said in a July interview with CTV News.

The Prime Minister added that her government is pursuing alternatives that avoid the Strait of Hormuz and is making every effort to ensure stable supplies through public-private cooperation. She noted that oil has already arrived from several other regions around the world and that Canada now joins the list.

Diversifying Oil Exports Makes Canada Stronger

The economic upside for Canadians of supplying more energy to Japan could be enormous.

Expanding oil and natural gas exports to Asia could help Canada diversify beyond the U.S. market and open the door to stronger trade relationships across the Indo-Pacific. More exports could drive domestic production, capital investment, and jobs nationwide. That growth could support workers across extraction, upgrading, transportation, logistics, shipping, engineering, construction, and port operations. Stepping up for Japan and other regional trading partners would also generate more tax and royalty revenues for our governments, helping them pay for critical public services such as healthcare and education we all rely on.

A recent study by Studio.Energy and ATB Financial found that building 1.5 million barrels per day of additional oil capacity in Canada could boost economic activity by more than $280 billion and support an additional 112,000 jobs between 2027 and 2035.

A new export pipeline to the West Coast could account for a million barrels of capacity per day, providing Japan – but also India, China, South Korea, and other countries who have said they want Canadian energy – with the oil supply they’ve said so many times they desire.

PM Takaichi also described Canada as “a reliable ally nation” that shares the responsibility in advancing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” language that speaks to shared interests and inherent trust between our nations. It reflects the growing recognition that Canadian energy can contribute not only to diversifying our national economy, but also to stronger international partnerships built on reliability and mutual benefit.

Japan's message is abundantly clear: Canadian energy matters on the world stage, and they want more.

The World Needs More Canadian Oil

Canadian oil and gas banner

As global demand for secure, reliable energy remains strong, Canada has a clear opportunity. Countries like Japan are telling us directly that they want what Canada has. They want our oil, our natural gas, our critical minerals, and stronger economic partnerships with nations they can count on.

When the world asks for Canadian energy, Canada should be ready to deliver.