Japan PM Ishiba and US President Trump to hold bilateral meeting in Canada on Monday

Japan PM Ishiba and US President Trump to hold bilateral meeting in Canada on Monday

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada. The meeting comes amidst a backdrop of global challenges, including the repercussions of Trump's tariff policy and recent tensions in the Middle East.

Ishiba's visit to Canada is part of a four-day trip aimed at addressing these pressing issues with his G7 counterparts. The summit, the first in-person gathering of G7 leaders since Trump's return to the U.S. presidency, is expected to cover a wide range of topics, including global economic growth, trade disputes, Russia's war on Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.

The bilateral meeting between Ishiba and Trump is anticipated to focus on ongoing tariff negotiations between Japan and the United States. Higher U.S. tariffs on cars, auto parts, steel, and aluminum are a significant concern for Japan's export-driven economy, especially with a nationwide House of Councillors election scheduled for July 20. Japan has been urging the United States to rethink its tariff measures, but tangible results have yet to be seen.

In a recent development, Trump approved the takeover of U.S. Steel Corp. by Nippon Steel Corp., with the U.S. government retaining a "golden share" to have veto power over important management decisions. Ishiba views this deal as a symbolic boost to bilateral economic relations and partnership, aiming to ensure it effectively strengthens supply chains.

The G7 leaders will also discuss ways to make supply chains more resilient and better utilize new technologies such as artificial intelligence. The summit is unlikely to issue a joint declaration but will instead release documents on specific points, according to sources familiar with the planning.

On the fringes of the G7 summit, Ishiba is expected to engage in one-on-one talks with leaders such as South Korea's new President Lee Jae Myung, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who are attending part of the multilateral meeting as non-G7 members.

References:
[1] https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/4bbc637fa52b-japan-pm-ishiba-to-attend-g7-eyes-summit-with-trump-over-tariffs.html?phrase=miss%20japan&words=
[2] https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250615/p2g/00m/0na/035000c
[3] https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250616_02/