UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
The United Kingdom–Japan 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.[2][3] 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.
Long name:
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![]() Japan United Kingdom (UK) | |
Type | Trade agreement |
Context | Trade relationship between the UK and Japan |
Drafted | 11 September 2020 |
Signed | 23 October 2020 |
Location | Tokyo, Japan |
Effective | 31 December 2020[1] |
Condition | Approval by all signatories |
Negotiators |
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Parties | |
Languages |
History
On June 9, 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 June 10 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 June 24, July 8, 15, 22 and 29.[6][7][8][9][10] The seventh, and final, round was held on August 3.[11]
The agreement is essentially the same the European Union–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in February 2019.[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]
Legal & treaty text

On 23 October 2020, the UK Government published the text of the Agreement.[15]
Areas Covered in the FTA
- Agriculture, food and drink
- Manufacturing
- Digital and data
- Financial services
- Creative industry
- Fashion
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
- Services
- Investment
See also
References
- "Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership". UK Treaty database. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- Tsuruoka, Michito (April 2, 2020). "The Shape of a Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement". The Diplomat.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-japan-agree-historic-free-trade-agreement
- "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. June 9, 2020.
- "First Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. June 11, 2020.
- "Second Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. June 25, 2020.
- "Third Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. July 9, 2020.
- "Fourth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. July 16, 2020.
- "Fifth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. July 27, 2020.
- "Sixth Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. July 29, 2020.
- "Seventh Chief Negotiators' Meeting on the Future Economic Partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. August 4, 2020.
- Howell, David (2020-09-21). "Japan-U.K. trade deal: Cheer amidst the gloom". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- "UK and Japan agree historic free trade agreement". Gov.UK. 11 September 2020.
- "UK and Japan sign free trade agreement". Department for International Trade. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- UK/Japan: Agreement for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office