"Trump Considers Visiting Japan Before Attending Gyeongju APEC in October"

Possible First Meeting with Japan’s Next Prime Minister

US President Donald Trump is holding a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the US for the 80th United Nations General Assembly held in New York on the 23rd (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

US President Donald Trump may visit Japan ahead of attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is scheduled to be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 31, according to a report by Reuters on the 24th (local time).

According to US and Japanese officials, if this visit to Japan is confirmed, President Trump will have his first face-to-face meeting with the successor to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is expected to step down on October 4.

The two countries have reached a broad agreement in their negotiations over tariffs on exports to the United States, but further discussions are needed on the details. Key issues include specifics regarding Japanese investment in the US and itemized tariffs on products such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

Reuters reported that President Trump’s visit to Japan is expected to take place before his trip to South Korea for the APEC summit.

However, officials warned, according to Reuters, that plans for a White House visit have not been finalized until an official announcement is made and could be subject to change.

President Trump announced that he has agreed to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit. Some observers are also raising the possibility that this could lead to a meeting with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously announced that President Trump is confirmed to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26 to 28.