Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is likely to raise the Japan-U.S. steel trade dispute at a meeting with President George W. Bush in Canada later this month, government sources said Thursday.
While Koizumi, not wanting to damage friendly bilateral relations, is unlikely to explicitly criticize or express concern over U.S. steel import curbs, he is expected to express hope the two countries can achieve a positive outcome, the sources said.
Koizumi and Bush are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Eight countries scheduled between June 26 and June 27 in Kananaskis, Alberta.