Japan, Canada, Australia to Cooperate on U.S. Tariff Plan

Tokyo, March 6 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Tuesday with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, and his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, to cooperate closely in response to planned U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. In separate telephone talks, Abe also agreed with the Canadian and Australian leaders that their countries will work together in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement without the United States in order to expand free trade areas. Abe called for Trudeau to help prevent North Korea from evading international sanctions such as through surveillance to counter offshore smuggling. The Japanese leader also said he hopes that the Group of Seven leaders will issue a strong message calling for the denuclearization of North Korea at their summit meeting to be held in Charlevoix, Canada, in June. END