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Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Tuesday 17th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 104087 on Trade Agreements: Japan, whether the Joint Dialogue with Civil Society established under Article 16.16 of the UK-Japan Trade and Cooperation Agreement has met since the agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The first UK-Japan Joint Dialogue with Civil Society is scheduled for 6th February 2023.

The Department for International Trade is working with the Government’s Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Domestic Advisory Group to prepare for the Dialogue and ensure that civil society participants covering all areas of TSD are represented.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Monday 9th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK-Japan Working Group on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture has met since the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK and Japan officials continue to be in close contact to identify any issues and ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement.

Since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, 13 out of the total 15 working groups, committees or dialogues provided for have been held. A Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (established by the UK-Japan Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters) is separately scheduled to meet in 2023.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Monday 9th January 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK-Japan Committee on Rules of Origin and Customs-Related Matters has met since the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK and Japan officials continue to be in close contact to identify any issues and ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement.

Since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, 13 out of the total 15 working groups, committees or dialogues provided for have been held. A Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (established by the UK-Japan Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters) is separately scheduled to meet in 2023.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Thursday 22nd December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Thursday 22nd December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Thursday 22nd December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Thursday 22nd December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc working groups under the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 93431 on Trade Agreements: Japan, when each (a) committee and (b) working group established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has met.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The following committees, under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, were last held on the following dates:

  • Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment: 21 October 2021
  • Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce: 1 November 2021
  • Committee on Government Procurement: 25 November 2021
  • Committee on Regulatory Cooperation: 04 February 2022
  • Joint Committee: 24 February 2022
  • Working Group on Wine (Trade in Goods): By written procedure on 1 January 2021
  • Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: 27 April 2022
  • UK-Japan Financial Regulatory Forum: 9 June 2022
  • Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade: 29 June 2022
  • Working Group in Motor Vehicles and Parts (Trade in Goods): 24 June 2022
  • Committee on Intellectual Property: 28 October 2022
  • Committee on Trade in Goods: 30 November 2022

The next Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment is planned for January 2023. The Government is in discussions with Japan about appropriate dates for other committees.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 93431 on Trade Agreements: Japan, when each (a) committee and (b) working groups established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement plans to meet.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The following committees, under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, were last held on the following dates:

  • Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment: 21 October 2021
  • Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce: 1 November 2021
  • Committee on Government Procurement: 25 November 2021
  • Committee on Regulatory Cooperation: 04 February 2022
  • Joint Committee: 24 February 2022
  • Working Group on Wine (Trade in Goods): By written procedure on 1 January 2021
  • Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: 27 April 2022
  • UK-Japan Financial Regulatory Forum: 9 June 2022
  • Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade: 29 June 2022
  • Working Group in Motor Vehicles and Parts (Trade in Goods): 24 June 2022
  • Committee on Intellectual Property: 28 October 2022
  • Committee on Trade in Goods: 30 November 2022

The next Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment is planned for January 2023. The Government is in discussions with Japan about appropriate dates for other committees.


Written Question
Indo-pacific Region: Foreign Relations
Thursday 8th December 2022

Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to further increase defence, security, and trade partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have recently reaffirmed our long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and ambition to strengthen defence, security and trade. The UK continues to deepen our strong bilateral partnerships across the region such as through the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the UK-Indonesia Partnership Roadmap to 2024 and a Bilateral Framework with Republic of Korea.

As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, we will deepen our cooperation with ASEAN and have negotiated a joint Plan of Action with ASEAN for the next 5 years.

The UK has secured free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, and has signed free trade deals with Singapore, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Japan, which sets the standards in removing friction and increasing confidence in digital trade. We also intend to be the first European country to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The UK continues to build long-term defence, industrial and technological partnerships through agreements including AUKUS, with Australia and the USA, and we continue to work on closer collaboration on combat air programmes with Japan.