Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hisayuki Fujii welcomed today Angela Ellard, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), during her visit to Japan. The meeting highlighted the importance of the multilateral trading system, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Japan’s accession to the GATT and the 30th anniversary of the WTO’s establishment.
State Minister Fujii emphasized that the GATT and WTO have been instrumental in supporting Japan’s postwar economic growth and global trade development. In response, Deputy Director-General Ellard underscored the WTO’s critical role in global trade and expressed her commitment to working with Japan to address challenges, including much-needed organizational reforms.
Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening the WTO system, particularly through reforms, amid the current complexities of global trade. The meeting underscored Japan’s ongoing support for a rules-based international trade framework and its collaboration with the WTO to promote sustainable economic growth.
