Comment on UK-Japan future trading relationship

Friday 11 September, 2020 

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

SMMT welcomes today’s agreement in principle of a Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement. This agreement should help foster a mutually beneficial automotive trade and investment relationship between the two countries, building on a shared automotive history that stretches back more than 40 years. While we await the full terms of the agreement and, in particular, evidence that it will deliver in full on industry’s priorities for the progressive lifting of tariffs and reduction of regulatory barriers, the conclusion of such an FTA represents a significant milestone for our industries.

We hope the deal can be ratified swiftly but, for both sides to benefit fully, we still need to urgently complete an ambitious and tariff-free UK-EU deal – and time is rapidly running out.