Japan PM Ishiba to attend G7, eyes summit with Trump over tariffs

The Mainichi

7 hours ago

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will embark on a four-day trip to Canada to attend the first in-person summit of leaders from the Group of Seven nations since Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency.
The two-day gathering will be held in Canada's Kananaskis, as a slew of challenges, both bilateral and global, loom ranging from the repercussions of the U.S. tariff policy symbolic of Trump's "America First" agenda, and a flareup in tensions following Israel's attack on Iran just days before the summit.
For Ishiba, who himself is participating in his first face-to-face G7 meeting, his envisioned meeting with Trump is one of the highlights of the visit as the longtime allies have been advancing ministerial tariff negotiations to reach a deal.
In a reversal of his previous stance, Trump effectively approved the takeover of United States Steel Corp. by Nippon Steel Corp., though the U.S. government will hold a "golden share," which gives it veto power over important management decisions.
As the only Asian member of the G7, which marks half a century since its inception, Ishiba seeks to share views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region where China's presence is increasingly felt.
The two days of summit talks will likely cover a range of topics, from uncertainty over global growth and trade disputes stemming from Trump's tariff policy to Russia's war on Ukraine, and most likely the situation in the Middle East.
The leaders are also expected to discuss ways to make supply chains more resilient and better use new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
In what would be a rare move by a group known for its unity, the group, under the rotating presidency of Canada, is unlikely to issue a joint declaration to wrap up their discussions but release documents on specific points, according to sources familiar with the planning.
The Ishiba-Trump summit is expected to grab attention in Japan. Higher U.S. tariffs on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum are threatening to hurt the export-driven economy, as a key nationwide election for the House of Councillors is set to be held on July 20, a crucial test for a prime minister facing a public hit by persisting inflation.
Japan has been urging the United States to rethink its tariff measures through rounds of ministerial negotiations, though tangible results have yet to be seen. In the run-up to his meeting with Trump, Ishiba has indicated that Japan will not rush to make a deal at the expense of national interests.
On the fringes of the G7 summit, Ishiba is expected to explore one-on-one talks with leaders such as South Korea's new President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who are also expected to attend part of the multilateral meeting as non-members of the G7.
The G7 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States plus the European Union.