Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Bilateral Trade Relations: Japan

Thursday 5 March 2020 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister visited Japan in September to promote UK trade.
  • Japan is using British-made products in the Tokyo Olympics.
  • Nissan's Sunderland plant is the most productive in Europe.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Business & Trade
Context

The question follows a recent visit by the government to promote UK-Japan trade. The MP is seeking information on steps taken.

Question

What recent steps has she taken to help improve bilateral trade relations with Japan?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

Japan is the third largest economy in the world and a key partner of the UK. I visited Japan in September to promote UK trade and we are shortly likely to commence our free trade negotiations with it.

Partly answered

How: Under Review

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Q2 Tom Randall
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The London 2012 Olympics provided a platform for nations to showcase themselves. The MP is asking about similar opportunities during the upcoming Tokyo events.

Question

London 2012 offered an opportunity not only for Britain to showcase itself to the world, but for the competing nations to showcase themselves to the host nation. May I ask what steps the Department is taking to promote Great Britain at the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic games in Tokyo?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I understand that Japan will be using a lot of British-made products in the Olympics, for example, the white water obstacles made by UK company RapidBlocs. During Tokyo 1920, we will be hosting a series of promotional events, and I look forward to Team GB celebrating its success with Scotch whisky and English sparkling wine.

Partly answered

How: Promotional Events

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Q3 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Business & Trade
Context

Nissan is significant in the north-east, employing many directly and indirectly. The MP seeks information on how a potential FTA could benefit the company.

Question

Nissan is very important to the north-east and employs hundreds directly in my constituency and hundreds more via the supply chain. What further benefits will a new free trade agreement with Japan, which is currently being pursued by the Government, bring to manufacturers and suppliers in my constituency?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nissan's Sunderland plant is the most productive in Europe, and I can see every reason why the Japanese are likely to put even more investment there and make more cars there. There are opportunities through the Japan FTA and the US FTA where Nissan already exports from its UK factory.

Partly answered

How: Opportunities, Us Fta

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Q4 Barry Sheerman Lab
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about securing supply chains, particularly with China and India's impact on drug imports due to the coronavirus.

Question

Should not the Secretary of State be looking at the way in which we source things in this country—whether from Japan or China? We know that many of the drugs that we need to fight this virus are actually made in India, and it is not allowing us to have a full complement of imports. We also know that firms all over our country are closing down because China is the workshop of the world and it is exporting nothing. What is she going to do in the future to secure those supply chains?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

First, we are participating in the efforts to tackle coronavirus through the cross-Government working group. The Prime Minister chaired a Cobra meeting on Monday to make sure that we are dealing with those supply chain issues. Furthermore, I expect the Trade Remedies Authority to play a strong role in making sure that we do not see the dumping of products on the UK market.

Partly answered

How: Cross-Government Working Group, Trade Remedies Authority

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