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Washington, DC - The President met with the other leaders of the G-7 in Ise-Shima, Japan on May 26-27 to advance major global economic and political priorities, guided by a set of common values including freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Promoting International Peace and Security 

In Ise-Shima, G-7 leaders recognized the challenges of persistent geopolitical conflicts and the rise of violent extremism.  The G-7 underscored its responsibility to lead international efforts to tackle these challenges and forge a path forward.

Responding to the Global Displacement Crisis

With displacement approaching levels not seen since the Second World War, G-7 leaders recognized the global nature of the crisis and affirmed the need to humanely and effectively manage displacement.  G-7 leaders committed to bolster global refugee and host community assistance and welcomed efforts to strengthen long-term global capacity and effectiveness to respond to crises.  To this end, G-7 leaders asked the World Bank to develop a global crisis response platform that will assist host states in providing sustainable livelihoods and education for both refugee populations and their communities.  The platform will help advance the objectives of the President’s Summit on Refugees that will be held on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September.

Achieving Strong, Sustainable, and Balanced Global Economic Growth

While U.S. businesses have added 14.6 million jobs over a record 74 consecutive months of job growth, global economic growth remains moderate and uneven.  G-7 leaders committed to implementing fiscal policy flexibly to strengthen growth, job creation, and confidence.  The G-7 stands ready to deploy robust policy responses to bolster short and longer-term growth as necessary.  G-7 leaders reiterated their commitment to using all policy tools to strengthen global demand and address supply constraints.  In addition, G-7 leaders reaffirmed their exchange rate commitments, including close consultation on actions in foreign exchange markets and not targeting exchange rates. 

G-7 leaders also noted their intent to promote quality infrastructure investment, including through effective resource mobilization in partnership with the private sector.  To this end, President Obama has put forward a bold plan for a 21st Century Clean Transportation System that boosts growth while reducing carbon pollution.  The United States has also been promoting infrastructure investment through the Build America Investment Initiative, a plan to encourage public-private partnerships and private investment.

Leveling the Playing Field for International Trade and Investment

G-7 leaders underscored their commitment to using trade to create economic opportunity for their worker and firms, noting that trade is a key driver of growth and prosperity.  Since G-7 leaders last met, the United States, Canada, and Japan have worked with 9 other countries to conclude negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).  G-7 leaders encouraged each TPP signatory to complete its domestic process to bring the agreement into force.  In addition, the United States and the European Commission committed to applying the necessary political will to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (T-TIP) as early as this year.

Enhancing Financial Transparency and Tackling Corruption

Reflecting their common values of fairness and the rule of law, and in order to promote strong economic growth and sustainable development, the G-7 leaders reaffirmed their aim to enhance financial transparency, combat tax evasion, and tackle corruption. As the G-7 recognizes the continuing need to foster public confidence in tax systems, the United States will continue to show leadership in this area.

Promoting Stability, Innovation, and Growth in Cyberspace

G-7 leaders committed to support an open, secure, and reliable cyberspace that promotes economic growth and prosperity.  Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support stability in cyberspace by promoting the application of international law to state behavior in cyberspace, voluntary norms of responsible state behavior in peacetime, and close cooperation against malicious cyber activity.  The G-7 reiterated its commitment to protect the same human rights online as offline.  Leaders also recommitted to work together on the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.

The G-7 leaders also addressed issues key to the growth of the digital economy.  Leaders emphasized the importance of the free flow of data and their opposition to unjustifiable data localization requirements.  The G-7 also committed to support transparent policy and legal frameworks and to promote international standards for technology products.  They emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, opposed generally applicable requirements for access to source code as a condition of market access, and reaffirmed that states should not conduct or knowingly support the cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property for commercial gain.  Further, leaders committed to promote a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance.  Finally, the G-7 committed to improve global access to the Internet, which aligns with the objective of the U.S.’s Global Connect Initiative to bring another 1.5 billion people online by 2020.

Addressing Climate Change, Protecting the Environment, and Strengthening Energy Security

G-7 leaders recognized the historic adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and reaffirmed their commitment to address climate change.  To maintain momentum, G-7 leaders committed to taking the necessary steps to secure ratification, acceptance, or approval of the agreement as soon as possible, and called on all parties to do so, striving for a goal of having the agreement enter into force in 2016.  Currently, 40 countries representing 50 percent of emissions have either joined the Agreement or have committed to work to join this year, putting implementation within reach in 2016.  G-7 leaders also committed to complete mid-century low-emission development strategies well ahead of 2020. 

In addition, G-7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the elimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and called on all countries to do so by 2025 – the first announcement of a target date to achieve the goal originally outlined by the G-20 in 2009.

Advancing Global Health and the Global Health Security Agenda

Recognizing the continued threat posed by diseases such as Zika, and determined to learn the lessons of the Ebola crisis, the G-7 leaders addressed a wide-ranging health agenda in Ise-Shima.  This included committing concrete assistance to strengthen country capacity to address infectious disease threats; reinforcing the global health architecture to strengthen the response to public health emergencies; moving towards the goal of universal health coverage; and combating antimicrobial resistance.

Advancing Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

G-7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and to the belief that women and girls are equal and indispensable agents of change in our societies.  G-7 leaders also affirmed the importance of promoting and protecting women’s rights and underlined the role of women as key actors to ensure peace and security.  The G-7 recognized that the role of women is critical to addressing challenges such as of violent extremism, the global displacement crisis, and protracted conflicts.  The G-7 also made specific commitments around empowering women and girls through education, promoting opportunities for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

Promoting Sustainable Development

With the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2015 marked a landmark year for development.  The G-7 resolved to make further efforts to implement its commitments.