The Departments of Justice and Commerce, in collaboration with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), held the first high-level trilateral summit in Washington, D.C. to launch the Disruptive Technology Protection Network. The summit aimed to strengthen collaboration on technology protection measures and enhance connections between the enforcement agencies of the three countries.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division emphasized the global importance of preventing sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands, stating, “Keeping sensitive technology out of the wrong hands is a global problem and demands a global response.”

The meeting, led by Assistant Attorney General Olsen and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod, marked a significant step in the efforts of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, established in February 2023. Assistant Secretary Axelrod highlighted the shared nature of the endeavor, stating, “Preventing sensitive technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states is not only a critical endeavor, but a shared one.”

Delegations from the United States, Japan, and the ROK underscored the importance of combatting illicit technology transfers for national and economic security interests. The parties signed two memoranda of intent to further enhance cooperation and information sharing in this regard.

Throughout the summit, representatives shared updates on their technology protection efforts, discussed recent enforcement actions, and outlined key enforcement authorities. The event concluded with a focus on practical next steps to implement the memoranda and achieve the network’s goals.

The summit brought together representatives from various agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, Homeland Security Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, National Police Agency, METI, Ministry of Finance, Customs and Tariff Bureau, Office of the President, MOTIE, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Customs Service.

The establishment of the Disruptive Technology Protection Network builds on the commitments made during the August 2023 Camp David summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the ROK. The trilateral partnership aims to advance security, prosperity, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

In summary, the summit served as a platform to strengthen collaboration and information-sharing among the enforcement agencies of the United States, Japan, and the ROK, in their joint efforts to safeguard critical technologies and prevent their misuse.