| Author (Person) | Warren, David |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Chatham House |
| Series Title | Expert Comment |
| Series Details | 06.09.16 / 30.08.17 |
| Publication Date | 30/08/2016 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog |
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United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May set out her ambition for the UK to become the global leader in free trade when she attended the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, 4-5 September 2016. The Prime Minister also started exploratory talks with a number of countries around the world to enable the UK to forge its own new trade deals once it had left the EU. In an officially published briefing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 2nd September 2016 the Japanese government said that 'It is of great importance that the UK and the EU maintain market integrity and remain attractive destinations for businesses where free trade, unfettered investment and smooth financial transactions are ensured ... In light of the fact that a number of Japanese businesses, invited by the government in some cases, have invested actively to the UK, which was seen to be a gateway to Europe... we strongly request that the UK will consider this fact seriously and respond in a responsible manner to minimise any harmful effects on these businesses'. 'What Japanese businesses in Europe most wish to avoid is the situation in which they are unable to discern clearly the way the negotiations are going, only grasping the whole picture at the last minute. It is imperative that the outcome is free of unpleasant surprises and reducing the risks emanating from uncertainty'. In this Expert Comment Sir David Warren says that Britain would do well to embrace Tokyo’s constructive criticism as it prepared for life outside the EU. British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived in Japan in August 2017 in an effort to consolidate differing Brexit interests. The UK wanted to lay the groundwork for a future trade deal, but Japan had other concerns. A future trading relationship was a central tenet throughout the visit of Mrs May to Japan. It came at a crucial time as the UK continued to prepare for new bilateral trading relationships after Brexit, and Prime Minister May reiterated the UK’s commitment to a swift conclusion of the ambitious EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. She also sought agreement from Prime Minister Abe that the UK and Japan should work to ensure it could form the basis of a bilateral arrangement quickly after Brexit. Security and defence also formed a significant part of talks between the leaders of the two countries. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/japan-lays-out-guide-Brexit |
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| Subject Categories | Internal Markets, Trade |
| Countries / Regions | Japan, United Kingdom |
