The U.K. plans to begin negotiating a free trade agreement with Japan in the near future, the British government has said, setting out its negotiating objectives for a deal it hopes will save its exporters millions of pounds a year in tariffs.
After decades outsourcing its trade policy to the European Union, Britain is embarking on negotiating free trade agreements with countries around the world, and earlier this month launched formal negotiations with the United States.
"Japan is one of our largest trading partners and a new trade deal will help to increase trade, boost investment and create more jobs following the economic challenges caused by coronavirus," trade minister Liz Truss said in a statement.