In the shadow of escalating tariff battles under US President Donald Trump, Japan and the UK stressed the importance of free trade during talks in Tokyo on Friday. The two countries made a joint commitment to protect global trade and strengthen economic cooperation.
“It is vital that we counter the growing trade fragmentation that is damaging the global economy and defend fair, rules-based international trade,” said UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. “That’s why the UK and Japan have agreed to enhance our economic security partnership. Our close relationship means we can be important partners for each other on this issue. In fact, right now we should be,” Reynolds said. These statements came after the first “2+2” meeting between the UK and Japan. The meeting was attended by UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Japanese Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. They discussed ways in which the two countries can strengthen their role in global trade as the world’s fourth and sixth largest economies. “Japan and the UK reaffirmed the importance of maintaining free trade and working with allies to strengthen supply chains, ensure fair competition and respond to overcapacity and economic pressures,” said Yoji Muto, Minister of Trade and Industry of Japan. “Our shared interests in one state, the international system and rules-based trade are absolutely clear and fundamental,” said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, adding that the talks “reinforced the value of cross-cutting discussions between the four ministers.”
https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-britain-stress-free-trade-in-tokyo-talks
