Talk: The U.S.-Japan Economic Relationship under President Trump and Prime Minister Abe

Minister Kazuhiro Suzuki was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. on September 16, 2016. He began his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1986. During his time in the Foreign Ministry, he has held a variety of positions, including Principal Deputy Director of the Northeast Asia Division, in charge of the Korean Peninsula, and Senior Coordinator in the Foreign Policy Bureau. One of his overseas postings was as a Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan in the People’s Republic of China from 2004 to 2007. From August 2007 to October 2013, he served as Director for Japan-U.S. Security Affairs, and for embassies and consulates management, and then, Director of Aid Policy and Management for the International Cooperation Bureau. He served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of Japan to the African Union from December 2013 until September 2016, simultaneously acting as the Co-Chairman of the African Union Partners Group in the diplomatic corps of Addis Ababa.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Tokyo, Master’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University and Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University.