U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Meeting on Women’s Economic Empowerment

The United States hosted Japan and the Republic of Korea in Seattle, Washington on Friday, August 18, on the margins of the APEC Women and the Economy Forum.  Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein led the U.S. delegation, which also included U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Geeta Rao Gupta, in discussion with Minister in charge of Women’s Empowerment Ogura Masanobu and Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle Seo Eun-ji on shared priorities and efforts related to advancing women’s economic empowerment.

The officials specifically addressed their joint commitment to advancing women’s economic participation; strengthening care infrastructure; and supporting women’s leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.  This meeting builds on previous trilateral engagements in 2016 and 2020 on women’s political and economic empowerment and women’s leadership in STEM fields, respectively, and supports the U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security.  The three sides agreed to continue to work together to reduce barriers to women’s full and meaningful participation in the economy, including at a 2024 conference in Washington, D.C.