Newsfrom Japan London, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)--British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko over the phone Tuesday of her country's willingness to quickly conclude a free trade agreement with Japan after Britain's planned exit from the European Union on Oct. 31. The two held phone talks apparently for the first time since the British minister took office in late July. In the talks, Truss also expressed Britain's interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade framework and confirmed her intention to visit Japan before the Brexit date to discuss the FTA and the TPP. "After we leave the EU, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put British businesses at the center of the world's fastest growing regions, and a close partnership with Japan will be a key part of this future," Truss said following the call. The Japanese government has been calling on Britain to avoid leaving the EU without an agreement between the two sides, fearing that a no-deal Brexit would severely impact Japanese companies. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
The UK wants to swiftly secure a free-trade deal with Japan after Brexit on 31 October, according to discussions between UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and her counterpart Hiroshige Seko. Truss also expressed the UK's desire to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and plans to discuss both in a trip to Japan before the withdrawal date. The Japanese government urged the UK not to consider a no-deal Brexit, citing potential harm to its companies.