Japanese PM aims to persuade Trump to scrap tariffs during visit to Canada

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled to travel to Canada on June 15 to engage in high-stakes trade discussions with US President Donald Trump.

The talks aim to persuade Trump to lift tariffs that have seriously impacted Japan’s automotive sector and threaten the stability of his administration, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The meeting is set to take place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, marking the second in-person encounter between the two leaders after a sixth round of intensive trade negotiations in Washington. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, disclosed that he has held detailed discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to explore possible trade agreements.

Ishiba, who spoke with Trump by phone, faces the difficult task of convincing the US president to remove the 25 per cent tariff on Japanese cars and the paused 24 per cent reciprocal tariff, without making concessions that could undermine his political standing back home. Political analysts suggest that Ishiba may be better off returning to Tokyo without a deal than compromising too heavily.

By Naila Huseynova