Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will raise the issue of reforming the World Trade Organization at the Group of 20 nations summit in Osaka in June.

Abe made the remarks during a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after their meeting in Ottawa on Sunday.

The WTO has ruled in South Korea's favor in a dispute over the country's ban on the import of Japanese fishery products. The ban was introduced after the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. Japan filed a complained with the WTO, calling the ban unfair.

Abe says the WTO's appellate body has various issues, such as it tends to offer conclusions that would not help resolve the problem. He says some WTO members have spoken of their doubts about the decision.

Abe says it's imperative for the WTO to solve a dispute so as to create a framework that better matches the reality of the 21st century. He vowed to discuss the issue at the June summit meeting.

Abe also commented on the US plan to end sanction waivers that exempt countries from a ban on importing Iranian oil.

Abe says Japan has traditionally been a good friend of Iran and he would like to utilize such friendship to make his contributions to the stability and peace of the region.

NHK