Abe discusses possibility of FTA with May
Japan News | 30 April 2017
Abe discusses possibility of FTA with May
By Keita Ikeda
In his talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed the possibility of starting negotiations for concluding a bilateral free trade agreement after Britain’s exit from the European Union is completed.
In the talks, the two leaders confirmed the two nations will deepen their economic cooperation after Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. “My trust in the British economy will continue after the exit,” Abe said in a joint news conference after the talks.
Japan is currently in negotiations with the EU to conclude an economic partnership agreement. At the talks Abe said, “First, I would like to make an utmost effort to reach a broad agreement for an EPA with the EU at an early stage,” and agreed to closely cooperate with May. The two leaders also discussed the prospects of a potential post-Brexit Japan-Britain FTA.
