The UK and Japan started trade talks Tuesday to replace the EU-Japan free-trade agreement that the UK will no longer benefit from at the end of 2020.
Japan is the UK's fourth-largest non-EU trading partner, with trade between the two countries worth over $39 billion last year.
Without a new accord by Jan. 1, the two countries will be trading on World Trade Organization terms, resulting in tariffs and obstacles to trade.
According to UK's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, they aim to strike a comprehensive free trade agreement with Japan that surpasses the deal previously agreed with the EU.
She noted that they are setting ambitious standards in areas such as digital trade and services.
The UK hopes that a free trade agreement with Japan would open up opportunities to join 11 other members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which would boost access for UK businesses to the Asia-Pacific markets.
The UK is also seeking free-trade agreements with other countries, including the US, New Zealand, and Australia.


South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January




