Tuesday’s Nikkei wrote that the trade ministers of the United States, Japan, and EU are considering making a joint proposal for WTO reform with the aim of stepping up restrictions on protectionist practices in the form of government subsidies to industries. According to the paper, they are mulling the proposal in response to China’s unfair trade practices. Nikkei said the United States, Japan, and EU are planning to discuss the issue at their trade ministers’ meeting to be held in New York on Sept. 25 and come up with a proposal in the fall or later. The paper wrote that strengthening the functions of the WTO is becoming increasingly important in order to convince the Trump administration to stay in the multilateral trade framework. The paper wrote on Saturday that Trade Minister Seko is making arrangements to participate in a ministerial meeting with USTR Lighthizer, and European Commission Commissioner Malmström in New York on Sept. 25. Monday’s Yomiuri ran a similar report.