ColombiaOne | 4 September 2025
Colombia pushes for trade deal with Japan after Petro-PM Ishiba Meeting
By Josep Freixes
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, called for accelerating the signing of a trade deal with Japan during his meeting with the Asian country’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. The Colombian president explained the importance of such an agreement which, he said, should serve to enable “massive” exports between both countries.
Petro has been in Japan since yesterday, where, in addition to this meeting with the Japanese prime minister, he will take part in meetings with lawmakers and business representatives in Tokyo and, starting tomorrow, Friday, will conclude his visit at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
Colombia’s Petro pushes for trade deal in talks with Japan’s Prime Minister
Gustavo Petro arrived in Japan last night, where he will visit Tokyo and Osaka until next Sunday, Sept. 7. The Colombian’s first stop was today, Thursday, in Tokyo, where he was received by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. In the meeting, the two political leaders discussed a potential trade agreement, something in which the Colombian president showed particular interest.
In fact, Petro described the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as a “fundamental necessity” that must be agreed upon as a priority. In this way, he said, the future agreement will allow “Colombian products to massively reach Japan, and Japanese machines perhaps to massively reach Colombia.”
The presidency recalled that the visit is of great importance to strengthen trade and investment relations with the Asian country, as in 2024 alone non-mining energy exports to Japan reached US$293.4 million, with products such as green coffee, fresh flowers, coffee derivatives, and other agricultural exports.
President Petro also expressed his interest in strengthening cooperation between Bogota and Tokyo in the development of artificial intelligence, according to what he told his Japanese counterpart shortly before the formal meeting between the two political delegations began.
The atmosphere was cordial and, as an anecdote, Prime Minister Ishiba recalled to the media that Japan was the first Asian country with which Colombia established diplomatic relations, in 1908, and pointed out that currently around 3,000 descendants of Japanese people are actively working for the development of the South American country.
Finally, the summit was held behind closed doors, and there were no statements to the press once it ended.
Rapprochement with Japanese business sector
Earlier today, Gustavo Petro held a meeting with representatives of Keidanren, the most important business federation in Japan, to carry out the Joint Economic Committee, which seeks to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries, in order to boost new investment opportunities, diversify exports, and promote bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors.
The Colombian delegation was received by the vice president of Keidanren and president of the Joint Economic Committee, Takehiko Kakiuchi, who, in addition to being chair of the board of Mitsubishi Corporation, is closely familiar with Colombia’s key commercial plans.
“It was very interesting to talk and exchange views with President Kakiuchi, who has been in Colombia for four years and sees many opportunities where we can work together,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio, who also highlighted the role of the committee as the fundamental driver of the bilateral economic relationship, where the private sector finds a space for strategic dialogue on the priorities of the economic agenda.
Starting tomorrow, the Colombian delegation, led by President Petro, will arrive in Osaka to visit the 2025 World Expo and see firsthand Colombia’s pavilion, the only Latin American country represented at this important international event.