No US-Japan meeting confirmed on sidelines of G7 summit, Tokyo says

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to travel to Canada on June 15 for the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit, but no bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump have been confirmed, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on June 13.

The summit, hosted by Canada and marking the 50th anniversary of the G7, will run from June 16 to 17 — starting a day later than originally planned. Ishiba is expected to emphasise G7 unity and highlight Japan’s role in addressing pressing global issues, Hayashi said, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Ishiba and Trump have expressed their hope to hold talks in person on the occasion of the G7 as both nations are seeking to advance negotiations on US tariffs at the ministerial level.

Asked about the prospect of such a meeting, Hayashi said "nothing has been decided at this point."

The G7 includes Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. This will be the first in-person summit since President Trump returned to office in January.

Although no formal talks are set, trade remains a key point of concern. Japan continues ministerial-level negotiations with the US over steep tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum that threaten its export-driven economy. Japan currently faces a reciprocal tariff rate of 24 per cent, including a 10 per cent baseline duty.

In addition, it is not ruled out that Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s top trade envoy, may accompany Ishiba to Canada, as he departed for the United States on June 13 to hold the sixth round of talks on US tariffs.

“We are in bilateral negotiations with the US,” he said before departing for Washington. “Generally speaking, if we reach a deal it should secure special treatment for Japan and exclude it from rules that apply to most countries.”

Japan and the United States have already held five rounds of negotiations on tariffs.

By Sabina Mammadli