NHK, TBS, and Fuji TV reported today that Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga commented at a news conference this morning on the summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Trump on the fringes of the G7 Biarritz Summit yesterday in which the two leaders agreed to conclude the bilateral trade talks and sign an agreement next month. Suga said that it was “extremely significant” that the two leaders were able to exchange views on international and bilateral issues, including the Japan-U.S. trade talks. When asked whether Japan was forced to put off the issue of auto tariffs, he said the question was “completely off the mark.” He further pointed out that Japan has confirmed with the U.S. on various occasions, including the bilateral summit last September, that the U.S. will not invoke Article 232 of the Trade Expansion Act against Japanese auto exports and take such steps as imposing additional tariffs or quotas. With regard to North Korea’s repeated missile launches, Suga said that Japan clearly conveyed its position that they were in violation of UN Security Council resolutions during the summit meeting and that the two countries are on the same page with regard to the DPRK’s missile development.