Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress her Department has made on connecting innovation ecosystems under the Japan-UK Strategic Economic Policy and Trade Dialogue; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Supported by the Strategic Economic Policy and Trade Dialogue, there is significant work underway across a number of departments and agencies in the UK and Japan to connect our respective innovation ecosystems. This includes organising pitch events, business matching sessions, information exchanges and supporting delegations of innovative start-ups to visit our respective markets. We are also working with external partners. In June, my department announced a new contract awarded to Oxfordshire-based Intralink to run the new UK-Asia Pacific Tech Growth Programme as part of the UK’s Digital Trade Network (DTN). This will help UK tech companies and entrepreneurs to trade across Asia Pacific, with Japan a key market.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on provisions in the UK–Japan free trade agreement on the obligations arising from International Labour Organisation membership.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK signed the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 23 October 2020. The Government is committed to upholding labour commitments in the CEPA.

We are committed to enhancing labour standards globally, for example by leading the way in negotiating the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention. We were the third country in Europe to ratify the convention in March 2022.

We are confident that the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is compatible with our international obligations. Many member states of the ILO have minimum service levels covering a range of key services.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2023 to Question 112041 on Trade Agreements: Japan, if he will publish details of the 15 working groups, committees and dialogues provided for.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for International Trade has already published details from a number of working groups, committees and dialogues established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. We endeavour to publish minutes where possible and, once completed and agreed with Japan, they are uploaded to the following site: www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-japan-cepa-documents. For the UK-Japan Financial regulatory forum further details can also be found on gov.uk: www.gov.uk/government/publications/inaugural-uk-japan-financial-regulatory-forum.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 104087 on Trade Agreements: Japan, on which dates the UK-Japan Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development has met since the UK-Japan Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-Japan Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) has so far been convened twice. It was held first on the 13^th October 2021 and secondly, on the 1^st December 2022.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 104087 on Trade Agreements: Japan, whether the Joint Dialogue with Civil Society established under Article 16.16 of the UK-Japan Trade and Cooperation Agreement has met since the agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The first UK-Japan Joint Dialogue with Civil Society is scheduled for 6^th February 2023.

The Department for International Trade is working with the Government’s Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Domestic Advisory Group to prepare for the Dialogue and ensure that civil society participants covering all areas of TSD are represented.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK-Japan Working Group on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture has met since the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK and Japan officials continue to be in close contact to identify any issues and ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement.

Since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, 13 out of the total 15 working groups, committees or dialogues provided for have been held. A Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (established by the UK-Japan Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters) is separately scheduled to meet in 2023.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK-Japan Committee on Rules of Origin and Customs-Related Matters has met since the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK and Japan officials continue to be in close contact to identify any issues and ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement.

Since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, 13 out of the total 15 working groups, committees or dialogues provided for have been held. A Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (established by the UK-Japan Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters) is separately scheduled to meet in 2023.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 23.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether the UK and Japan have established any ad hoc working groups under the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK and Japan may establish, if necessary, ad hoc technical working groups under certain specialised committees.

To date, the UK and Japan have not established ad hoc technical working groups under the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation or established an Animal Welfare Technical Working Group under the Joint Committee.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 93431 on Trade Agreements: Japan, when each (a) committee and (b) working group established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has met.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The following committees, under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, were last held on the following dates:

• Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment: 21 October 2021
• Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce: 1 November 2021
• Committee on Government Procurement: 25 November 2021
• Committee on Regulatory Cooperation: 04 February 2022
• Joint Committee: 24 February 2022
• Working Group on Wine (Trade in Goods): By written procedure on 1 January 2021
• Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: 27 April 2022
• UK-Japan Financial Regulatory Forum: 9 June 2022
• Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade: 29 June 2022
• Working Group in Motor Vehicles and Parts (Trade in Goods): 24 June 2022
• Committee on Intellectual Property: 28 October 2022
• Committee on Trade in Goods: 30 November 2022

The next Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment is planned for January 2023. The Government is in discussions with Japan about appropriate dates for other committees.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 93431 on Trade Agreements: Japan, when each (a) committee and (b) working groups established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement plans to meet.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The following committees, under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, were last held on the following dates:

• Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment: 21 October 2021
• Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce: 1 November 2021
• Committee on Government Procurement: 25 November 2021
• Committee on Regulatory Cooperation: 04 February 2022
• Joint Committee: 24 February 2022
• Working Group on Wine (Trade in Goods): By written procedure on 1 January 2021
• Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: 27 April 2022
• UK-Japan Financial Regulatory Forum: 9 June 2022
• Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade: 29 June 2022
• Working Group in Motor Vehicles and Parts (Trade in Goods): 24 June 2022
• Committee on Intellectual Property: 28 October 2022
• Committee on Trade in Goods: 30 November 2022

The next Working Group on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment is planned for January 2023. The Government is in discussions with Japan about appropriate dates for other committees.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 20.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, on which date the Japanese Government provided the details of their contact point to the UK; and when her Department provided the contact details of their contact point to the Japanese Government.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Japan exchanged contact points for all areas of the agreement in December 2020. Japan shared contact points with the UK on the 18 December 2020. The UK shared contact points with Japan on the 24 December 2020.

The UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) contact points have attended all meetings of the Committees and Working Groups established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The contact points for UK and Japan have not met to specifically discuss SMEs, but have discussed more generally utilisation of the Free Trade Agreement by business.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 20.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, on what dates the SME contact points for small and medium enterprises have met since the agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Japan exchanged contact points for all areas of the agreement in December 2020. Japan shared contact points with the UK on the 18 December 2020. The UK shared contact points with Japan on the 24 December 2020.

The UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) contact points have attended all meetings of the Committees and Working Groups established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The contact points for UK and Japan have not met to specifically discuss SMEs, but have discussed more generally utilisation of the Free Trade Agreement by business.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 20.4 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, whether either party has recommended to the Joint Committee the inclusion of additional information by the parties in their respective websites.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Article 20.4.3 establishes that the UK and Japan may, in accordance with each Party's rules and procedures, recommend the inclusion of additional information by the Parties in their respective websites.

At the first meeting of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’s Committee on Trade in Goods, the UK and Japan discussed including a contact point for Japanese Customs on the UK Government website. This will help Japanese importers identify the correct commodity code for goods entering Japan from the UK.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 20.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the impact of the work of her Department since the agreement came into effect on cooperation between the UK and Japan to (a) identify ways to assist small and medium enterprises to take advantage of commercial agreements and (b) promote and facilitate trade and investment opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Japan are cooperating to implement the dedicated small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) chapter that ensures SMEs are provided with the tools and resources necessary to seize the opportunities of exporting to Japan, including through the use of an SME website and a searchable database for tariffs. The UK and Japan have shared contact points for the SME chapter. The UK SME contact points have attended all meetings of the Committees and Working Groups established by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

To assess the impact of this work, the Department for International Trade has committed to publishing a biennial Free Trade Agreement monitoring report, starting in 2023, and a comprehensive ex-post evaluation report for the UK-Japan CEPA within 5 years of the agreement entering into force. This evaluation will cover a broad range of impacts, including impacts on SMEs.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 20.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which non-governmental organisations her Department has promoted cooperation between to assist the business of small and medium enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK Government promotes the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to business via Export to Japan, a not-for-profit organisation, part funded by the Department for International Trade (DIT), that helps UK businesses enter the Japanese market.

DIT also promotes cooperation through other non-governmental organisations that operate in Japan including the British Chamber of Commerce and the Japan British Market Council as well as JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation).

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 8.83 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, how many discussions (a) ministers and (b) officials from her Department have had with the Japanese Government in which the challenges for small and medium sized enterprises in the use of electronic commerce has been discussed.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Japan held their first Committee on Trade in Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between officials on 1st November 2021. The UK and Japan discussed mutually beneficial cooperation to promote digitalisation including through e-government and applications being accepted in electronic format, which is of particular relevance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We will continue to consider challenges for SMEs moving forward.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 14.80 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the impact of the (a) exchange of information, (b) sharing of experiences and skills and (c) any other form of cooperation or activities regarding intellectual property issues relevant to small and medium sized enterprises that has taken place between the UK and Japan since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK and Japan are working well together to implement the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The UK and Japan held their first Committee on Intellectual Property on 28 October 2022. The UK and Japan provided updates on relevant work on their respective domestic intellectual property regulations, this included Japan’s revisions to its Copyright Act and the UK’s Counter Infringement Strategy. The UK continues to engage with Japan regularly on matters relating to intellectual property.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 4.6 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the work of her Department in reducing the time and costs for (a) all businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The first meeting of the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (JCCC) will be held in 2023. The UK and Japan will work towards further simplification of their respective customs procedures.

The UK makes its facilitations available to all traders fulfilling certain criteria, regardless of the size or sector of the business.

A comprehensive evaluation report for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, published within 5 years of the agreement entering into force, will cover a broad range of impacts, including the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 8.82 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the steps taken by her Department to identify ways to expand access to and use of public government information for (a) all businesses and (b) small and medium sized enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK values our cooperation and close work with Japan to implement this UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) successfully. The CEPA Open Government Data provisions encourage the publication of appropriate government datasets in an accessible format. These provisions are particularly beneficial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as they can gain access to accurate and reliable datasets without having to collect the information themselves, which can be costly.

The Department for International Trade has committed to publishing a comprehensive evaluation report for the UK-Japan CEPA within five years of the agreement entering into force. This evaluation will cover a broad range of impacts, including the impact on SMEs.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 8.82 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the steps taken by the Japanese Government to identify ways to expand access to and use of public government information for (a) all businesses and (b) small and medium sized enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK values our cooperation and close work with Japan to implement this UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) successfully. The CEPA Open Government Data provisions encourage the publication of appropriate government datasets in an accessible format. These provisions are particularly beneficial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as they can gain access to accurate and reliable datasets without having to collect the information themselves, which can be costly.

The Department for International Trade has committed to publishing a comprehensive evaluation report for the UK-Japan CEPA within five years of the agreement entering into force. This evaluation will cover a broad range of impacts, including the impact on SMEs.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 17.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the work of the Japanese government to implement a transparent, effective and predictable regulatory environment since the Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Article 17.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) establishes that the UK and Japan shall provide for a transparent regulatory environment. The CEPA agreement includes one of the UK’s first standalone Good Regulatory Practices and Regulatory Cooperation (GRPRC) chapters which commits both parties to improving and maintaining a stable, predictable and transparent regulatory environment for businesses. The CEPA GRPRC chapter includes commitments to open and accessible public consultations for regulations in development, and robust regulatory impact assessments to ensure regulations are proportionate. The CEPA also establishes a Committee on Regulatory Cooperation to discuss these matters.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 4.6 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what assessment she has made of the steps taken by the Japanese Government to reduce the time and costs for (a) all businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises since that agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The first meeting of the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee (JCCC) will be held in 2023. The UK and Japan will work towards further simplification of their respective customs procedures.

The UK makes its facilitations available to all traders fulfilling certain criteria, regardless of the size or sector of the business.

A comprehensive evaluation report for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, published within 5 years of the agreement entering into force, will cover a broad range of impacts, including the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Article 17.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, what steps her Department has taken to implement a transparent, effective and predictable regulatory environment since the Agreement came into effect.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Article 17.2 of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) establishes that the UK and Japan shall provide for a transparent regulatory environment. The CEPA agreement includes one of the UK’s first standalone Good Regulatory Practices and Regulatory Cooperation (GRPRC) chapters which commits both parties to improving and maintaining a stable, predictable and transparent regulatory environment for businesses. The CEPA GRPRC chapter includes commitments to open and accessible public consultations for regulations in development, and robust regulatory impact assessments to ensure regulations are proportionate. The CEPA also establishes a Committee on Regulatory Cooperation to discuss these matters.

Found: , Japan will also eliminate tarif fs on US cheese, thanks to the US-Japan trade agreement.5 Outside trade