The World Expo's mission is to bring people together, albeit with an acknowledgment that humanity is more divided than at any time, The Guardian said. It opens in the wake of trade tensions and fears of a global economic downturn sparked by the United States' tariffs.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba compared the global tensions to a "national crisis" and said Trump's tariffs, especially the 25 percent duty on automobiles, would be a blow to all industries and to Japan's economy.