Toshimitsu Motegi

Following the LDP's success in the 2012 general election, resulting in Shinzo Abe's election as prime minister, Motegi was named as Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry in December 2012.

He left the Cabinet in September 2014 to serve as Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Election Committee. He was appointed Chairman of the LDP Policy Council in August 2016.[2]

Motegi was appointed Minister for Economic Revitalization and State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2017.[2] As minister, he was sent as a special envoy to sign the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in Santiago, Chile.[5] In August 2019, Motegi led negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to finalize a new trade pact between Japan and the United States.[6] Nikkei dubbed Motegi "Japan's 'Trump whisperer'" in recognition of his role in negotiating with US President Donald Trump and his administration.[7] Abe appointed Motegi as foreign minister in September 2019 in recognition of this success.[8]

In 2018, Motegi was revealed to have possibly breached Japan's electoral laws. He was accused of making illegal donations of incense sticks to his constituents through his personal secretary. Opposition parties called for his resignation.[9] He was active in gathering support for Abe's re-election as president of the Liberal Democratic Party that year.[8]

Motegi condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. He said in a statement: "Japan is deeply concerned that the latest military operation would make the settlement of Syrian crisis more difficult and cause further deterioration of the humanitarian situation. Japan once again underscores its position that the Syrian crisis cannot be solved by any military means."[10]

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga retained Motegi as foreign minister after taking office in September 2020. As Suga was known to be weak in foreign affairs, this gave Motegi an opportunity to build his reputation and brand, while maintaining the foreign policy initiatives started under the Abe government.[11]

In October 2020, Motegi met with U.K. International Trade Secretary Lizz Truss to sign a bilateral economic partnership agreement that is estimated to raise British exports to Japan by 17.2% (¥355 billion) and Japanese exports to Britain by 79.9% (¥1.775 trillion) in 15 years, as compared to 2019 levels. In the trade package, British import tariffs are expected to reduce by up to 60% for Kobe beef, 31% for the Japanese chocolate snack Pocky, 22% for bluefin tuna, 13% for udon noodles, and 6% for soy sauce.[12]