Press Releases

The 1st G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting (Online)

February 23, 2026

On February 23, G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting was held online hosted by The H.E. Mr. Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, the current G7 Presidency. From Japan, along with Mr. AKAZAWA Ryosei, Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry and Mr. MATSUO Takehiko, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. AKAHORI Takeshi, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, representing Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended the meeting.
At the meeting, The participants engaged in active discussion on enhancing supply chain resilience for critical minerals and the future of the WTO including the 14th WTO Ministeral Conference (MC14).

France (Presidency): H.E. Mr. Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Canada: The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
Germany: Mr. Frank Wetzel, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Italy: Hon. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The U.K.: The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The U.S.: The Honourable Ambassador Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative
EU: H.E. Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutuional Relations and Transparency, European Commision

The Ministerial Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the WTO and is typically convened every two years.
MC14 is planned to be held from March 26 to March 29, 2026, at Yaounde, Cameroon.