Brexit Britain embarks on landmark Japan trade deal - Will 'go further' than EU-Tokyo pact
Express.co (09/06/2020) - THE UK will begin talks with Japan on Tuesday with the aim of striking a comprehensive free trade deal that "goes further" than the agreement in place between the EU and Tokyo.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the virtual meetings will focus on areas such as digital trade and services. She said both sides would work to an "ambitious timeline" with the goal of signing a deal by the end of the year.
The UK's Brexit transition period is due to end on December 31 and so far the Prime Minister has shown no signs of opting for an extension. The Department for International Trade said on Monday that around 100 negotiators from the UK side will take part in the video talks.
Ms Truss and the Japanese minister for foreign affairs, Motegi Toshimitsu, will kick-off the meetings on Tuesday.
She said: "As we kick-start trade talks, we aim to strike a comprehensive free trade agreement that goes further than the deal previously agreed with the EU, setting ambitious standards in areas such as digital trade and services.
"A trade deal with Japan will also advance the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will improve market access for UK businesses across the Asia-Pacific region."
Takaaki Hanaoka, secretary general of the Japanese chamber of commerce and industry in the UK, said the two nations stand to benefit from a post-Brexit deal.
He said: "The UK and Japan have common ground in that both have mature markets and societies.
"Both can be partners in further developing economic activities through mutual trade and investment."
According to Government data, UK trade with Japan was worth more than £30 billion last year.
READ MORE: EU panic: Brussels farmers issue statement in no deal Brexit fear
A total of 9,500 companies in Britain exported goods to the Asian country.
Regions set to do particularly well if a good deal is struck include the East Midlands, London and Scotland, analysis by the Government shows.
The announcement comes as farmers in the UK expressed their concern over the lack of progress between Brussels and the UK in trade talks.
Last Friday saw the fourth round of negotiations wrapped up.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, struck a pessimistic tone on the failure of both sides to see eye to eye on key issues.
He said “there has been no significant progress in the talks" and added: “We cannot go on like this forever."
Brexit Timeline: https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/139/590x/secondary/brexit-news-uk-2507530.jpg?r=1591657344189
“But make no mistake, without a quality free trade agreement, thousands of farmers both in the UK and the EU would go out of business, with all the devastation to lives and communities that go with it.”
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) and other agricultural bodies have also issued warnings about the possible consequences of a no deal Brexit.
The NFU predicted a "catastrophe" for many British farmers if the UK's negotiators, led by David Frost, could not reach an agreement with their EU counterparts.