TORY: The European Union and Japan will work more closely to counter economic coercion and address unfair trade practices, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday (July 23).

Von der Leyen's comments came after an EU-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the EU struggles to conclude a trade deal with the United States and a day before potentially tough meetings with Chinese leaders.

Japan struck a trade deal with the United States on Tuesday (July 22) that lowered tariffs on auto imports in exchange for U.S.-bound investment and loans.

Von der Leyen said the EU and Japan would seek to strengthen economic security.

Ishiba told reporters that the EU and Japan would work to maintain and strengthen a rules-based, free and fair economic order.

Ishiba added that the EU and Japan had agreed to work to strengthen the defence industry and to start talks for an information security agreement.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EU, Japan to work more closely to address unfair trade, von der Leyen says

VIDEO SHOWS: JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA MEETING WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL ANTONIO COSTA / ISHIBA AND VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING IN NEWS CONFERENCE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 23, 2025) (FOREIGN POOL - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN (RIGHT) AND PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL ANTONIO COSTA (LEFT) SHAKING HANDS AND POSING FOR PHOTOS

2. ISHIBA, VON DER LEYEN AND COSTA POSING FOR PHOTOS, WALKING OFF

TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 23, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

3. ISHIBA, VON DER LEYEN AND COSTA ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"We will also work more closely together to counter economic coercion. And to address unfair trade practices."

5. ISHIBA, VON DER LEYEN AND COSTA STANDING ON PODIUM

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"We believe in global competitiveness and it should benefit everyone. That’s why Europe is stepping up cooperation with CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) countries, not only to defend open trade, but to shape it. Together, the European Union and CPTPP countries can lead a meaningful reform of the WTO, so that global trade rules reflect today’s challenges and the risk of tomorrow.”

7. ISHIBA, VON DER LEYEN AND COSTA STANDING ON PODIUM

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHIGERU ISHIBA, SAYING:

"Today, we issued a joint statement by the leaders of Japan and the EU, reflecting on the progress of our cooperation and looking ahead to strengthening our future collaboration. In the field of security, we agreed to advance cooperation toward launching a defense industry dialogue in the private sector, with the aim of strengthening the defense industrial base, which is a priority for both sides. And, we also agreed to formally begin negotiations on the Japan-EU Information Protection Agreement."

9. JAPAN AND EU FLAGS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA SAYING:

"In the economic sphere we agreed to work together to maintain and strengthen a free and fair economic order based on stable and predictable rules, including the protection of the multilateral trading system centered on the WTO. We decided to expand the Japan-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue, and both sides will strive to enhance competitiveness and contribute to addressing economic security and global challenges."

11. ISHIBA, VON DER LEYEN, COSTA AND DELEGATES ARRIVING FOR MEETING

12. ISHIBA SEATED WITH DELEGATES

13. ISHIBA TALKING AT MEETING

14. DELEGATES FROM JAPAN AND EU SEATED

15. VARIOUS OF COSTA SPEAKING IN MEETING

16. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING IN MEETING