Japan will reportedly call for an early elimination of import tariffs on vehicles and parts as part of negotiations on a post-Brexit free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK.
Reuters reported that Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and British trade minister Liz Truss will hold trade talks via video conference today (9 June).
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The report also said Japan’s trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told a news conference that Tokyo will urge the British government to “bring forward the period for which tariffs will be removed mainly for auto and autoparts”.
The two countries automotive trade associations also said in a joint statement that they welcome the start of the bilateral trade talks and also said they wanted the partnership to be based on the terms of a parallel Japan-EU deal.
The full statement said: “SMMT and JAMA welcome the start of these historic free-trade agreement negotiations between the British and Japanese governments. Our two automotive industries have had a deep and mutually beneficial trade, technology and investment relationship for nearly forty years, thanks to continuous support from both governments.
“In order to further enhance this long-term partnership, SMMT and JAMA believe that the conclusion of a new Japan-UK FTA based on the terms of the Japan-EU EPA – and its immediate implementation after the end of the transition period – would greatly benefit economic prosperity both in the UK and Japan.”
