About: Shinzo Abe

Trade and horsetrade: Top five hot-button G20 issues

Global trade, geopolitical hotspots around the world and even horse-trading over top EU jobs, G20 leaders have a lot of their plate when they meet from Friday (28 June) in Osaka.

Tensions surge as US accuses Iran of Gulf of Oman tanker ‘attacks’

Washington accused Iran of carrying out attacks that left two tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday (13 June), escalating tensions across the region.

Clogs gift for EU medicines agency’s Brexit move

Dutch officials handed over a pair of clogs and the keys to the European Medicines Agency's temporary base in Amsterdam on Wednesday (9 January) as the watchdog prepares to leave London after Brexit.

Trump attacks EU and Canada on trade amid backlash ahead of G7 summit

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations headed for a summit in Canada on Thursday more divided than at any time in the group's 42-year history, as US President Donald Trump's "America First" policies risk causing a global trade war and deep diplomatic schisms.

EU, Japan pledge to tie the trade knot within months

The European Union and Japan have agreed the broad lines of a trade deal on Thursday (6 July), promising to iron out the last details within months.

EU, Japan officials seal trade agreement, sending messages to Trump

Japan and the European Union should agree Thursday (6 July) to a free trade pact that could be completed within months, after senior officials removed final snags to a political deal intended as a signal to US President Donald Trump.

Malmström in Tokyo to clinch trade deal in time for G20

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker dispatched the EU's top trade officials to Tokyo Thursday (29 June) for crucial talks to seal a long-awaited deal with Japan.

Trump scolding shadows most difficult G7 ‘in years’

US President Donald Trump, fresh from scolding Europe over military spending, slammed "bad" behaviour in trade by Germany as acrimony dogged the start of annual G7 summit talks on Friday (26 May).

Rows threaten to derail ‘toughest G7 in years’

G7 leaders met on Friday (26 May) with divisions on trade and climate change, and fresh friction surrounding Donald Trump, threatening to undermine a show of unity against jihadist terrorism.

Back home after icy Trump meeting, Merkel calls for open markets

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a staunch joint defence of free trade yesterday (19 March), as the United States pushes towards greater protectionism.

Post-Brexit ‘member states will fall in love with each other again’, insists Juncker

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is not worried about other EU countries following the United Kingdom out of the EU because Brexit will show them "it's not worth leaving". He also warned that a trade war is not in the interests of either Brussels or Washington.

Trump suddenly likes the EU?

Donald Trump expressed support for the European Union on Thursday (23 February), which is surprising against the background previous remarks.

Europe moves to pick up free trade scraps as Trump ditches TPP

President Donald Trump signed an executive order formally withdrawing the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal yesterday (23 January) as Europe sniffed a chance to pick up the free trade the US is turning its back on.

Tokyo targets EU trade deal by end of 2017

The Japanese government plans to accelerate talks with the EU, aiming to sign a free trade deal with the bloc this year, according to Japanese news outlet NHK. EURACTIV Spain reports.

In maiden UN speech, May says UK not turning away from the world

British Prime Minister Theresa May told leaders yesterday (20 September) that her country will not turn away from the world after the shock vote to leave the European Union, seeking to allay fears over the future unity of the West.

Japan woos Russia with deeper economic ties

Japan is hoping the lure of deeper economic ties with Russia will strengthen strategic relations in the face of a rising China, but sceptics question whether the approach will generate a breakthrough in a decades-old territorial dispute.

World leaders condemn Nice attack, call it ‘cowardly’

Sympathy and condemnation for the Bastille Day attack in Nice dominated the opening of an Asia Europe summit in Mongolia today (15 July), drawing attention away from Beijing's rejection of a tribunal ruling dismissing its extensive South China Sea claims.

Tusk urges Greek debt deal ‘very soon’

Council President Donald Tusk urged the eurozone yesterday (3 May) to swiftly close talks on fresh reform measures for debt-hit Greece, saying it would help global economic stability.

EU-Japan FTA: Why negotiations are far from over

Hopes that the three year-old negotiations between the EU and Japan towards a free trade agreement could be finalised by the end of this year are fading, writes Iana Dreyer.

UN Security Council reform back in the limelight

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with her Brazilian, Indian and Japanese counterparts to discuss the issue of permanent membership on the UN Security Council. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Renzi hopes to push through EU-Japan trade deal this year

The Italian prime minister believes the EU and Japan could finalise a free trade deal by the end of the year. EURACTIV Italy reports.