Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, just newly re-elected ruling LDP leader, has confirmed a formal summit with Trump on September 26. The meeting will be held on the sidelines of Abe’s visit to New York to attend a United Nations General Assembly. Before that, Abe and Trump plan to have a dinner together on September 23.
In between, Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will meet US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on September 24, as follow-up to their August meeting on trade. Motegi said “based on the common understanding we built in the first round of talks, we’ll seek a ‘win-win’ outcome that benefits both countries.” It’s a known that the US is forcing Japan into bilateral free trade agreement but Motegi said “I don’t think that will happen”.
