Japan–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

The Japan–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) (Japanese: 日英包括的経済連携協定) is a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan.[1][2] The agreement was agreed in principle by both parties in September 2020 and signed in Tokyo in October 2020, following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union in January 2020. It entered into force at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.[3]

Japan–United Kingdom CEPA
English: Agreement between Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Japanese: 包括的な経済上の連携に関する日本国とグレートブリテン及び北アイルランド連合王国との間の協定
  Japan
  United Kingdom
TypeFree trade agreement
ContextTrade agreement between Japan and the United Kingdom
Drafted11 September 2020
Signed23 October 2020
LocationTokyo, Japan
Effective1 January 2021
ConditionApproval by all signatories
Negotiators
Parties
Languages

History

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On 9 June 2020 Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Liz Truss, the UK's Secretary of State for International Trade, agreed to launch negotiations and to establish the future economic partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom.[4] On 10 June 2020 the first meeting of chief negotiators was held after the launch of negotiations on the future economic partnership between Japan and the UK.[5] This was followed by video conference rounds on 24 June, and on 8, 15, 22 and 29 July.[6][7][8][9][10] The seventh, and final, round was held on 3 August.[11]

The agreement is largely similar to the European Union–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in February 2019, but with small changes made in regards to financial services, digital trade and rules of origin.[12]

The UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in principle by Truss and Motegi on a video call on 11 September 2020.[13]

The UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Tokyo 23 October 2020.[14]   

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United Kingdom–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

On 23 October 2020, the UK Government published the text of the Agreement.[15]

Areas Covered in the FTA

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  • Agriculture, food and drink
  • Manufacturing
  • Digital and data
  • Financial services
  • Creative industry
  • Fashion
  • Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
  • Services
  • Investment
  • Goods

"The quota available to Japanese importers for British products will be the entirety of any unutilised EU quota in that year."[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tsuruoka, Michito (2 April 2020). "The Shape of a Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ "UK and Japan agree historic free trade agreement". Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership". UK Treaty database. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Video Teleconference Talk between Foreign Minister Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu and The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  5. ^ "First Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Second Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Third Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Fourth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Fifth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 27 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Sixth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Seventh Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 4 August 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  12. ^ Lanktree, Graham (11 September 2020). "5 things to know about the UK-Japan". Politico.
  13. ^ "UK and Japan agree historic free trade agreement". Gov.UK. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
  14. ^ "UK and Japan sign free trade agreement". Department for International Trade. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  15. ^ UK/Japan: Agreement for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Archived 2020-10-23 at the Wayback Machine – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  16. ^ "Trade with Japan". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.