Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential for greater regulatory interoperability between the UK and Japan to reduce barriers to financial services exports.

This question was answered on 1st April 2026
The Government recognises the value of deepening relationships with international partners, such as Japan, to support global financial stability, a cohesive regulatory landscape, and growth and investment in the UK.

Financial regulatory dialogues, including the Japan-UK Financial Regulatory Forum (FRF), are important in supporting cross-border trade in financial services and form a core part of the government’s approach to strengthening international partnerships, as set out in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy published in July.

The most recent Japan-UK FRF was on 18 March 2026 in Tokyo, alongside joint sessions with the seventh meeting of the Financial Dialogue. The Forum provided an opportunity for a deep and meaningful exchange across a broad set of economic, fiscal and financial regulatory issues, including alignment on international sustainability reporting standards, digital finance and international banking. Further details of the discussions can be found in the Joint Statement.