Japan, Britain Affirm Importance of Free Trade

Tokyo, March 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese and British foreign and economy ministers on Friday affirmed the importance of free and fair trade at a time when the international economic order has been shaken by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The four ministers, meeting in Tokyo, also agreed to work together to strengthen economic security.

The talks were the first meeting of the Japanese and British foreign and economy ministers. A similar dialogue has already taken place between Japan and the United States.

"We'll strive toward maintaining and strengthening the international economic order based on free and fair rules," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a joint press conference after Friday's meeting.

Japanese economy minister Yoji Muto said Japan and Britain, which share the same values of free trade, will further strengthen ties to counter the rise of protectionist moves worldwide.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to discuss ways to beef up supply chains for critical minerals. They also confirmed energy security cooperation and collaboration with Global South emerging economies.

The two Japanese ministers were joined by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Reynolds told the press conference that the two nations need to fight back against the trade fragmentation that is damaging the global economy.

Muto and Reynolds met separately and signed four memorandums of cooperation on offshore wind power generation.

After Britain left the European Union in 2020, a Japan-Britain economic partnership agreement took effect. In December last year, Britain became the first European country to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

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