Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister of Japan since his appointment; and if so, whether they discussed the implications of the current tensions between the governments of the United States and China for the global economy.

The Prime Minister spoke to newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Suga on 23 September. They discussed economic and trade issues, including the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and reform of the World Trade Organisation. The UK is concerned by the impacts of the current trade dispute between the governments of the US and China, and is clear that nobody benefits from trade wars. We continue to raise our concerns about the trade dispute with both parties, and to work closely with them on our bilateral trade and investment relationships.