Japan will likely formalize its cooperation with Britain's stated intention to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the free trade pact involving 11 countries including Japan and Australia, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of economic revitalization and the TPP, is to convey Tokyo's intention during a meeting with British Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss, who is scheduled to visit Japan as early as Friday, according to sources.
Japan intends to invite Britain, which has left the European Union, to join the TPP, and will reiterate the importance of free trade, they said.
Since leaving the EU, Britain has announced its intention to pursue joining the TPP early next year, raising interest in the free trade pact as a stepping stone to the Asia-Pacific region under its slogan that Britain is open to the world.
London, which has promoted better relations with Tokyo, reached a broad agreement on a new trade agreement. The two countries are to hold a signing ceremony on the bilateral trade deal in the near future.
Four other nations, including Malaysia and Chile, have signed up to join the TPP, but have yet to ratify the agreement due to divergent opinions in their countries. Thus, the TPP has taken effect in only seven countries so far. Thailand had said it was willing to join the TPP, but has not made any progress because of its domestic situation.
Japan, which is to chair the TPP next year, hopes to act as an intermediary between Britain and other participating countries as part of efforts to help revitalize the TPP framework.
Should Britain join the trade pact, it will be the first country other than those that have been involved in TPP negotiations from the start to do so.
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